May 10, 2011 – The defense team for Andru Veerpalu, the Olympic medal winning cross country skier who tested positive for HGH and retired suddenly on the eve of the 2011 World Championships in Oslo, requested an extension that has been granted by FIS in order to prepare their case, reported ERR News. Veerpalu’s defense stated the 10-day extension will be sufficient. The new deadline is now May 20. This extension does not change Veerpalu’s hearing date on June 5.
Read the ERR News article HERE.
April 29, 2011 – Andrus Veerpalu (EST), the two-time Olympic gold medal winner who retired from competitive cross-country skiing on the eve of this year’s World Championships in Oslo, recently tested positive for Human Growth Hormone – both his A and B sample – and is now slated to appear at a FIS Anti-Doping hearing on June 5, according to ERR News.
Veerpalu is expected to dispute his positive test findings for HGH. In order to do so, he must submit his explanations and scientific defense material by May 10. Veerpalu is strongly backed by the Estonian Skiing Association.
Read the full story HERE.
April 15, 2011 – Mati Alaver, Estonian Ski Team coach, has refused to accept the job of Russian Ski Team Coach offered by the Russian Ski Federation according to ERR News. Alaver states that his priority is to help prove that Estonian skier Andrus Veerpalu is not guilty of doping despite his B Sample positive test for HGH on April 6.
The Estonian coach added that if Veerpalu is cleared, he will continue his position with the Estonian Team. But Russian Ski Federation President, Yelena Vyalbe, is trying to recruit Alavar, who coached Veerpalu a 2x Olympic and 2x World Champion, along with world championship bronze medalist, Jaak Mae.
Vyalbe, a former cross-country skier herself, with three Olympic gold medals to her name, maintains her confidence in Veerpalu’s innocence and Alavar’s integrity as a coach.
Read the ERR News articles HERE and HERE.
Read previous coverage about the Veerpalu case HERE and HERE.
April 08, 2011 – Andrus Veerpalu’s B Sample has tested positive for Human Growth Hormone, finally confirming the rumours of alleged doping that first began to circulate about the Estonian when he retired from the sport on the eve of the Oslo 2011 Nordic World Championships, according to ERR News.
The announcement was made by the Estonian Ski Association yesterday. At the press conference, the two-time Olympic Champion maintained his innocence and denied knowingly taking any banned substances.
Read the article HERE.