October 14, 2011 (Helsinki, Finland) – Most of the Finnish national cross-country ski team have quit over a wage dispute – only four team members have signed a contract reports AP. That gives the Finnish Ski Association five per cent of all prize monies and those four turned up for training camp this week. Meanwhile, another 14 former team members refused to sign that contract. Apparently, no further wage talks are planned by the Association.

The Finish team, formerly an international powerhouse, has been beset with problems since the 2001 World Championships in Lahti where six members of the team – the famous “Lahti Six” including four men Janne Immonen, Jari Isometsä, Harri Kirvesniemi, and Mika Myllylä, and two women Milla Jauho and Virpi Kuitunen – tested positive for EPO (erythropoietin).

Read more HERE.

And HERE