The board of the Finnish Ski Association (FSA) will meet on May 10 to decide on the latest incident of doping involving a Finnish cross-country skier. Kaisa Varis was found with EPO, a banned performance-enhancing drug, in her system. The discovery has cost the FSA thousands of dollars in sponsor money and government subsidies, threatens its silver medal (again) from the 4 x 5K relay, and is expected to bring about more sweeping changes. Previously, the federation underwent big changes and sponsors' exodus when six Finnish skiers were caught at the 2001 World Championships.

Varis was suspended from the first two races of the World Championships in mid-February because of a high hemoglobin count in a surprise test on the eve of the racing. After the Worlds, medical authorities disclosed she had tested positive, in both the A and B sample, for using a form of EPO, a banned performance-enhancing drug.

At the time, Varis said her high hemo level resulted because she was unfamiliar with how to adjust a nitrogen tent that helped to simulate altitude training on the eve of the championships in Italy. She said she had tested negative in a handful of tests in the previous three months and questioned the process of testing, asking if anyone could trust it.

She competed in several title races, finishing eighth in the 30K classic and skiing the third leg of the relay. After the championships, officials said that she had been tested two days before the races began and that EPO residue was found in her urinalysis. The B sample also contained this residue.

At presstime, Varis, who had gone into hiding, was expected to appeal the findings and make a formal statement to the FSA board before the May meeting considers final action. Meanwhile, the FSA is trying to regroup.