CAS explain how Vanessa-Mae cleared of Olympic ski race fix

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Pop violinist Vanessa-Mae exploited weak International Ski Federation rules and got help from Alpine race officials "smitten" by her celebrity to qualify for the Sochi Olympics, according to sport's highest court.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared the musician last month of rigging low-level races in Slovenia organized by her entourage in January 2014, and lifted her four-year ban on appeal.

In a detailed ruling published on Friday, the court said the 6,055 euros ($6,700) a local ski club was paid to organize four races days before the Olympic qualifying deadline was "not unreasonable."

The court did acknowledge that how the races were set up "should probably have raised some red flags."

One race in January 2014 was titled the "Thai National Junior Championships" even though 35-year-old Vanessa-Mae was the only racer from Thailand.

"It was obvious that the race exclusively served the purpose of allowing the Appellant to qualify for the Olympics at short notice," the three-lawyer judging panel wrote. "However, and perhaps surprisingly, the regulations permitted this.

"If anything has to be blamed in the case at hand, it is rather the system put in place by FIS to organize competitions and not the Appellant for having 'used' it for her own benefit."

Though Vanessa-Mae's ban was lifted, the panel upheld a FIS decision to annul the qualifying races, making her ineligible for the Winter Games.

The Britain-based musician competed in Sochi for her father's native Thailand, under her family name Vanakorn. She finished last of 67 racers in the two-run giant slalom more than 50 seconds behind gold medalist Tina Maze of Slovenia.

Vanessa-Mae began earning FIS ranking points only three months before the Olympics, and needed a late surge to reach the qualifying standard.

The CAS panel said FIS fell short of proving that "every conceivable step was taken to twist and turn" the rules. If the qualifying races were rigged, it was not clear Vanessa-Mae was involved in cheating, "let alone the mastermind."

One higher-ranked retired skier who was paid to return and compete against Vanessa-Mae, lifting the ranking value of the race, was not called as a witness by FIS, the court noted.

Other witnesses gave different versions of claims that Vanessa-Mae was allowed by race organizers to start her run several seconds before official timing began.

Vanessa-Mae "is a world famous musician," the court ruling said. "The officials and all participants perhaps allowed themselves to be 'smitten' by this."

Now eligible again to try to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Vanessa-Mae told the court hearing in March that she plans to continue racing in FIS-sanctioned events.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-03

555 Yes, that all seems above board. Lets not get hung up on minor details. 555

She obviously had great fun in the race even though she came last. It was sheer joy to watch, and as such I believe beneficial to the sport.

As long as we can accept OJ as innocent/not guilty so is Miss Mae.

She was well fit but it seems cheating is the norm. It must be hard to accept that you can't get everything you desire by spending money. Last place will have to do.

I still wouldn't kick her out of bed.

I still wouldn't kick her out of bed.

I would wager she wouldn't let you come within 500 m of her

Never mind the skiing, how is she at a salom on a well buttered banister. OMG did I really post this ?

Never mind the skiing, how is she at a salom on a well buttered banister. OMG did I really post this ?

No you didn't, it was some other idiot posing as a TV member.

I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, there's no way you can prove anything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTbgsoHDc24

.

I'm still dreaming of Vanessa Mae, a slab of marble and lots of olive oil - a vision raised by the previous thread on this topic.

She obviously had great fun in the race even though she came last. It was sheer joy to watch, and as such I believe beneficial to the sport.

Rubbish she was just cheating, everything else shes done is besides the point.

Mea has proven as honourable and honest as pattaya lady boy...

shame but there ya go.

At least there's no questioning her "Thainess" anymore.

She obviously had great fun in the race even though she came last. It was sheer joy to watch, and as such I believe beneficial to the sport.

Competitions are for all participants not for just one to enjoy especially if she / he gets there by cheating.

Maybe Prayut will give her a reward for her success.

If there's one thing Prayut can respect, it's a takeover by bending or ignoring the rules.

I'm still dreaming of Vanessa Mae, a slab of marble and lots of olive oil - a vision raised by the previous thread on this topic.

Yes, but what about the ciabatta?

She obviously had great fun in the race even though she came last. It was sheer joy to watch, and as such I believe beneficial to the sport.

Rubbish she was just cheating, everything else shes done is besides the point.

Mea has proven as honourable and honest as pattaya lady boy...

shame but there ya go.

"Rubbish she was just cheating. fiddling ..."

Well at least she did complete her sport as opposed to that " XXXXX " Chic" who supposedly drove her bike from Somewhere in Singapore to Nepal Base camp Mt. E...

WANNABEs.. and the support staff to booth on both fine examples of asian women.

And why is this remotely important to be newsworthy. As if she underhandedly bumped out other Thai athletes who all were contenders for bottom of the pack!

thais cheating in something ?

come on

not possible

She obviously had great fun in the race even though she came last. It was sheer joy to watch, and as such I believe beneficial to the sport.

I haven't seen a video of her in several years, but when she was in her 20s she was hot. Seemed to have a good time in her performances, too. I think that joy carried over to her audience and was the reason she was liked. I hadn't realized she was Thai. For some reason I always thought she was Singapore Chinese/English.

thais cheating in something ?

come on

not possible

Oh, put a sock in it.