Legendary speed skater Claudia Pechstein will have a chance to seek compensation for her two-year doping ban, announced Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, overturning a 2016 Supreme Court ruling.
Claudia Pechstein, 50, who became the first woman to compete in eight Winter Olympics and the first to medal in five consecutive forums, continues legal proceedings in a regional court in Munich for millions of euros in compensation against the International Skating Union.
“I was humiliated and publicly executed”, said Claudia Pechstein. “I am therefore extremely relieved that my case will be heard by a German court under the rule of law”, added she.
“Although I had to go through many crises and declines in the last 13 years after the unfair ban by the International Skating Union, my team and I have always believed in justice”, said the legendary German speed skater.
Claudia Pechstein received a two-year ban from competition in February 2009 due to suspicious blood counts and subsequently missed the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. The speed skater denied doping allegations and was later found to have a hereditary blood disorder.
“Athlete and person Claudia Pechstein achieved something extraordinary today. For her and for every other German athlete who might fall into the mill of sports jurisdiction. After 13 years of struggle, we are respectful and humbled by this decision of the highest German court”, said Claudia Pechstein’s partner Matthias Grosse, who is also president of the local speed skating and short track association.
Claudia Pechstein’s ban at the time was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne and she appealed unsuccessfully to the Swiss Federal Court in a German civil court.
In 2015, the regional court in Munich issued a temporary decision that the German woman could continue with the legal proceedings in principle, since the concluded court agreement was null and void.
The Supreme Court later ruled that the claim was inadmissible in its entirety, but after the decision of the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, Claudia Pechstein’s fight for justice can continue.
“The compulsion of athletes to defend themselves behind closed doors before a moot court of arbitration in Switzerland is now over”, commented Claudia Pechstein.
Claudia Pechstein has won five Olympic gold medals. With a total of nine Olympic medals, five gold, two silver and two bronze, she was the most successful Olympic speed skater and also the most successful German Winter Olympian of all-time.
