Alpine skiing-Violinist Mae has four-year ban annulled

LONDON (Reuters) - Pop violinist Vanessa Mae has overturned a four-year ban and been cleared of fixing Alpine skiing races but she was still ineligible to compete at the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday.

CAS found there was "insufficient evidence" to back last year’s suspension imposed by the International Ski Federation (FIS) for manipulating giant slalom races in Slovenia which allowed her to qualify for the Sochi Games at the last minute.

However, CAS said in a statement she "was ineligible to compete" because the qualifying events in Slovenia were "so defective".

Mae, a British citizen, competed for Thailand at the Games in Russia in February last year under her father’s surname of Vanakorn, coming a distant last of the 67 finishers in the giant slalom.

"In its decision, the CAS Panel accepted the position of the FIS that a number of irregularities had occurred in the organisation and management of the four races in question," CAS said in a statement.

"(The panel) could not find, to its comfortable satisfaction, evidence of any manipulation by Vanessa Vanakorn herself that justified the guilty finding and the imposition of a four-year ban."

Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (Reporting By Michael Hann; editing by Toby Davis)

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Alpine-skiing-Violinist-Mae-has-four-year-ban-annu-30262742.html

-- Thai PBS 2015-06-20

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified:

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She proved that she could complete 2 runs in an Olympic giant slalom without falling ass over, something several others in the event could not do and few others in the world can do

She may have finished last of those who finished but she did not finish last in the event.

.......a !@#$%^&* by any other name.....

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified:vanessa.jpg

Yes, it does say "hits"

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She proved that she could complete 2 runs in an Olympic giant slalom without falling ass over, something several others in the event could not do and few others in the world can do

She may have finished last of those who finished but she did not finish last in the event.

She finished last, but surely without a team of specialists and without massive doping.

That has in my opinion more sport value.

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She proved that she could complete 2 runs in an Olympic giant slalom without falling ass over, something several others in the event could not do and few others in the world can do

She may have finished last of those who finished but she did not finish last in the event.

Should never have been there.

She may well be innocent of the fixing of qualification by taking part in a deeply flawed event, no reason to think she isn't.

However without that event she would never have qualified.

She may well be a good slalom jumper but she isn't olympic class as her failure to qualify through legitimate events and subsequent performance in the olympics themselves.

She didn't fall over, well done, still doesn't make her olympic class.

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She finished two runs!!

Unlike:

Maria HOEFL-RIESCH

GER Did not start Marie-Michele GAGNON

CAN Did not finish Federica BRIGNONE

ITA Did not finish Julia MANCUSO

USA Did not finish Marie-Pier PREFONTAINE

CAN Did not finish Marion BERTRAND

FRA Did not finish Wendy HOLDENER

SUI Did not finish Katerina PAULATHOVA

CZE Did not finish Sarka STRACHOVA

CZE Did not finish Martina DUBOVSKA

CZE Did not finish Julietta QUIROGA

ARG Did not finish Mireia GUTIERREZ

AND Did not finish Kristina SAALOVA

SVK Did not finish Lelde GASUNA

LAT Did not finish Florence BELL

IRL Did not finish Federica SELVA

SMR Did not finish Denise KARBON

ITA Did not finish Ragnhild MOWINCKEL

NOR Did not finish Maria BEDAREVA

RUS Did not finish Marusa FERK

SLO Did not finish Sofija NOVOSELIC

CRO Did not finish Agnese ABOLTINA

LAT Did not finish Ieva JANUSKEVICIUTE

LTU Did not finish

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She finished two runs!!

Unlike:

Maria HOEFL-RIESCH

GER Did not start Marie-Michele GAGNON

CAN Did not finish Federica BRIGNONE

ITA Did not finish Julia MANCUSO

USA Did not finish Marie-Pier PREFONTAINE

CAN Did not finish Marion BERTRAND

FRA Did not finish Wendy HOLDENER

SUI Did not finish Katerina PAULATHOVA

CZE Did not finish Sarka STRACHOVA

CZE Did not finish Martina DUBOVSKA

CZE Did not finish Julietta QUIROGA

ARG Did not finish Mireia GUTIERREZ

AND Did not finish Kristina SAALOVA

SVK Did not finish Lelde GASUNA

LAT Did not finish Florence BELL

IRL Did not finish Federica SELVA

SMR Did not finish Denise KARBON

ITA Did not finish Ragnhild MOWINCKEL

NOR Did not finish Maria BEDAREVA

RUS Did not finish Marusa FERK

SLO Did not finish Sofija NOVOSELIC

CRO Did not finish Agnese ABOLTINA

LAT Did not finish Ieva JANUSKEVICIUTE

LTU Did not finish

All of whom qualified through legitimate events.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure she is a quality slalom competitor, however until she qualifies through legitimate events then she is not olympic class.

If she does so then I will admit i was wrong.

No problem with that….if she qualifies through events that meet olympic standards.

Edited June 20, 201511 yr by Bluespunk

vanessa mae a very good violinist but not a very good alpine skier if I were her I wouldn't bother last of 67 is not very good better to stick with the violin and a lot safer.

Old habits die hard ........ Her dads blood is still coarsing through her veins with all the Thai corruptneess well in order......... I'm surprised the rest of the skiers were allowed skis ............. It's a bit like a Farang Thai boxing, if he beats the living daylights out of his Thai opponent, knocks him out cold, he'll be disqualified on a faulty Wai.......... Welcome to the land of unfairness.............As Snake Pliskin said,,,,,, "Bangkok rules" ? Which means, there's none...... Sexy bird all the same...........

she might have finished, but anyone could have at her pace. those that didn't were actually trying to win

Looks good though doesn't she? http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=325466

Edited June 20, 201511 yr by JAG

Ahh - the old 'overturned on appeal due to lack of evidence' as the reason. Happens all the time in Thailand.

The stock result when someone gets bribed. The only part which they can claim is subjective.

Old habits die hard ........ Her dads blood is still coarsing through her veins with all the Thai corruptneess well in order......... I'm surprised the rest of the skiers were allowed skis ............. It's a bit like a Farang Thai boxing, if he beats the living daylights out of his Thai opponent, knocks him out cold, he'll be disqualified on a faulty Wai.......... Welcome to the land of unfairness.............As Snake Pliskin said,,,,,, "Bangkok rules" ? Which means, there's none...... Sexy bird all the same...........

Racism,misogigny and stupidity all in the one post,top that,anyone.

Old habits die hard ........ Her dads blood is still coarsing through her veins with all the Thai corruptneess well in order......... I'm surprised the rest of the skiers were allowed skis ............. It's a bit like a Farang Thai boxing, if he beats the living daylights out of his Thai opponent, knocks him out cold, he'll be disqualified on a faulty Wai.......... Welcome to the land of unfairness.............As Snake Pliskin said,,,,,, "Bangkok rules" ? Which means, there's none...... Sexy bird all the same...........

Racism,misogigny and stupidity all in the one post,top that,anyone.

Ahh - the old 'overturned on appeal due to lack of evidence' as the reason. Happens all the time in Thailand.

The stock result when someone gets bribed. The only part which they can claim is subjective.

Since when is CAS based in Thailand and i wonder how many Thas on the board.I'd be more concern about old Seth and his croneys than Thai bashing for no sensible reason.

Edited June 20, 201511 yr by louse1953

Didn't 'Eddie The Eagle' finish a distant last in the ski jump a few years ago, don't recall there being a fuss about that.

Vanessa may be a violinist but they found no evidence of her qualifying being fiddled (sorry couldn't resist that)

While she is only a silver-medal violinist, she is certainly a gold-medal knicker-wearer.

I'm not sure the fact she stayed on her feet is proof of worthiness to qualify or enhance her reputation as a skier . In 3 hours I could probably walk down the slope and not fall over. Its like claiming to be a 100 metres prospect because you managed to not fall over in the stroll to the tape.

There must be a way of separating those who can balance without falling over , How about timing them ?

Didn't 'Eddie The Eagle' finish a distant last in the ski jump a few years ago, don't recall there being a fuss about that.

Vanessa may be a violinist but they found no evidence of her qualifying being fiddled (sorry couldn't resist that)

Eddie was in reality a very good downhill skier who narrowly missed qualification for the 1984 Olympics.

He trained at a high level and was a respected competitor in that field. He switched to ski jumping due to financial difficulties and the fact it would be easier to qualify for the Olympics as no other Brit was competing for a place in the event (at least not at his standard of skiing).

He qualified through legitimate, recognised events.

He may not have been the best but he was a genuine skier who earned and deserved his place in the Olympics.

 

"Mae is now eligible to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea."

Yeah, right.

Don't be so negative!!

She is qualified: vanessa.jpg

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She proved that she could complete 2 runs in an Olympic giant slalom without falling ass over, something several others in the event could not do and few others in the world can do

She may have finished last of those who finished but she did not finish last in the event.

Should never have been there.

She may well be innocent of the fixing of qualification by taking part in a deeply flawed event, no reason to think she isn't.

However without that event she would never have qualified.

She may well be a good slalom jumper but she isn't olympic class as her failure to qualify through legitimate events and subsequent performance in the olympics themselves.

She didn't fall over, well done, still doesn't make her olympic class.

 

That is exactly what makes her olympic class. the contenders are meant to be ameateurs, not professinals. Still a fair few students who get into the olympics though as far as I can tell there is a lot more money goes to some countries amateurs than others. As far as I can tell the whole olympics started to go downhill with that american sprinter taking roids. He was in fact an excellent athlete without em, there we go

Mae is quality,

I really don't see what harm was done if she was qualified to take part. The fact that she came last is irrelevant. Sje is Thai, wished to represent Thailand in the Winter Olympics, and did so, coming last. As I said at the time, good luck to her.

 

Absolutely she is talented, i would love to hear her play or just stand and stare like some brain dead caveman, but that doesn't mean she can ski to Olympic standards. In fact she proved she couldn't last time around.

She proved that she could complete 2 runs in an Olympic giant slalom without falling ass over, something several others in the event could not do and few others in the world can do

She may have finished last of those who finished but she did not finish last in the event.

Should never have been there.

She may well be innocent of the fixing of qualification by taking part in a deeply flawed event, no reason to think she isn't.

However without that event she would never have qualified.

She may well be a good slalom jumper but she isn't olympic class as her failure to qualify through legitimate events and subsequent performance in the olympics themselves.

She didn't fall over, well done, still doesn't make her olympic class.

 

That is exactly what makes her olympic class. the contenders are meant to be ameateurs, not professinals. Still a fair few students who get into the olympics though as far as I can tell there is a lot more money goes to some countries amateurs than others. As far as I can tell the whole olympics started to go downhill with that american sprinter taking roids. He was in fact an excellent athlete without em, there we go

Mae is quality,

Most ancient Greek Olympic athletes were professionals.

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/amat.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/21/sports/la-sp-sn-were-the-ancient-greek-olympic-athletes-really-amateurs-20120321

http://www.history.com/news/5-myths-about-the-ancient-olympics

How did they do in the " downhill slalom"?☺☺

Edited June 21, 201511 yr by JAG

Large slab of marble and plenty of olive oil.

The thought of Vanessa Mae, a large slab of marble and plenty of olive oil. ...

Mind you I'm told that in certain bars in Athens. ...

Edited June 21, 201511 yr by JAG

Talk about making mountains out of molehills, still, she's hot enough to melt snow..