May 28, 2018 – The International Ski Federation (FIS) is considering a move to reduce quota spots for countries with multiple doping violations, a move that FIS said is designed to bolster their zero-tolerance policy and serve as a preventative tool in the fight against doping.

The FIS news comes following a similar declaration by the International Weightlifting Federation, which implemented new anti-doping rules that could mean up to 16 countries could lose their spots in competitions after repeated violations.

The move to reduce quota spots was part of the discussion during the annual FIS Congress held in Greece this past May, but there were no new rules established specifically dealing with quotas, only formal acknowledgement that it is a point of discussion.

When implemented, the new quota rules would cover World Championships as well as World Cup and Olympic Games competitions.

The FIS Doping Panel also reported on the sanctioning of Italian cross-country athlete Marina Piller for an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) anti-doping rule violation for two years from 1st January 2017 until 31st December 2018.

FIS also announced new services to bolster its commitment to new anti-doping rules including a whisteblower hotline, investigation services and an ethics and compliance office, which will be managed through an “independent specialist organisation.”

Link to FIS Congress anti-doping rules here.