Following the Engadin Ski Marathon, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation FIS has lifted three of the disqualifications imposed there due to fluorine wax. The women's winner is now Maëlle Veyre (France).
After last Sunday's race, Maëlle Veyre, who was ranked first, was disqualified due to a violation of the fluorine wax ban. The same happened to a further eleven participants whose skis tested positive for fluorine wax. The tests and procedures are precisely prescribed and are entirely in the hands of the FIS.
As a result of the disqualifications, the FIS reviewed the cases once again and found in three of them that the procedure had not been followed correctly. The FIS Office then filed an appeal against these three disqualifications with the Appeals Commission. The Commission has upheld the three appeals and abolished the disqualifications.
For women, they concern Maëlle Veyre (FRA), who will be the winner of the Engadin Ski Marathon. Among men, Silvan Durrer (SUI) is 98th and Daniel Grätzer (SUI) in 228th place. The remaining nine disqualifications remain.
FIS faces up to its responsibilities
As organizer, the Engadin Ski Marathon was not involved in the fluorine tests; the entire process is subject to FIS. However, the three cases are very busy for the Engadin Ski Marathon OC. On the one hand, falsely disqualified athletes have the right to have their disqualifications handled correctly and, in the event of procedural errors, corrected immediately.
In addition, the process also places an unnecessary burden on their environment and the other athletes who were ranked incorrectly. Although the Engadin Ski Marathon cannot influence this, it very much regrets it.
Since the race, the wrongfully disqualified athletes and their environment have often been harshly criticized and suspected of having influenced the competition with unfair means. With today's abolition of the three disqualifications, it is clear that these allegations against them are baseless. The Engadin Ski Marathon also expresses its great regret to the three athletes and their environment. He later congratulates Maëlle Veyre on her victory.
The Engadin Ski Marathon acknowledges and appreciates that those responsible at FIS have taken action of their own accord to clarify once again how to handle the cases in question in detail. The FIS is thus facing up to its responsibility towards sport and its athletes. It is the right way to protect the integrity and credibility of the tests.
Prize money remains
With the disqualifications that have now been lifted, the rankings of the other runners will be corrected. The top six women therefore theoretically lose the right to some of the prize money that has already been paid. However, the Engadin Ski Marathon OC has decided that the prize money that has already been paid out will remain valid. This gesture is intended to help alleviate the emotional rollercoaster and anger following the events.
Engadin Ski Marathon media release dated March 15, 2024. Christian Gartmann has been Communications and Media Officer for the Engadin Ski Marathon since 2014 and advises organizers on crisis management and crisis communication.