Estonian cross-country skier Andreas Veerpalu, who was caught using blood doping at the World Ski Championships in Seefeld, Austria in 2019, will not travel to Austria for a court hearing on October 15. A decision will be made in absentia.
Andrus Veerpalu guilty of participation in Operation Aderlass
Former cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu (EST) guilty of participation in the Operation Aderlass
On 17th March 2021, the CAS Anti-Doping Division found Andrus Veerpalu (EST) guilty of participating in the blood doping scheme known as Operation Aderlass and banned him for two years from FIS-sanctioned events. This was the last of six doping bans against cross-country skiers and coaching personnel under the jurisdiction of the FIS.
The decision sanctions Veerpalu for a violation of Article 2.9 of the 2016 FIS Anti-Doping Rules because of assisting, conspiring and covering up or any other type of intentional complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation for two years until 17 March 2023. The award will be published on the CAS website. The decision was not appealed and is binding and enforceable.
Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist wrestler Heiki Nabi tested positive for letrozole, a drug prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The 35-year old Nabi tested positive for the illegal substance letrozole in the start of the year, a medicine used to accelerate muscle growth and development. Nabi is now under a primary competition ban, as of Wednesday. I was and still am shocked! I sincerely cannot imagine how a substance such as this ended up in my organism. The lack of knowledge in this situation is most hurtful. With my hand on my heart - I have always followed fair play rules when doing sports, said Nabi via a press release. When I heard the substance is found in women s breast cancer medicines, my bewilderment grew larger.
Hosts of Raadio 2 talk show Olukorrast riigis Andrus Karnau and Harry Tuul criticized businessman Toomas Annus behavior who said he will stop sponsoring all athletes after he was recently associated with funding the doping of Estonian cross-country skiers.
His activities serve himself more than they do sports in Estonia – it has been a way to create a positive image for himself and his companies as opposed to altruistic support for young Estonian skiers or cyclists, Karnau found.
Tuul agreed that Annus decision does not look good.
Karnau wondered at the businessman s decision to cut around €500,000 in support for young athletes after ETV investigative journalism program Pealtnägija covered his potential ties to the doping scandal. He said that the news was published in Eesti Ekspress on Monday, while Annus decided to go after Pealtnägija that covered the same information a few days later.
In September of 2020, it was revealed that the former national ski coach Mati Alaver was charged with facilitating banned blood doping and the use of illegal growth hormones for four skiers, three Estonians and one Kazakh. Alaver s activities took place from summer 2016, to February 26 2019 when he was detained by Austrian police, ERR News wrote.
Additional portions of court materials now published show that one of the Estonian skiers who cooperated with Alaver, Karel Tammjärv, along with major sponsor Toomas Annus, were more involved in the doping scandal than had been previously known to the public. The scheme itself was much more blatant than was known before, ETV s investigative show Pealtnägija reported Tuesday evening.