The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CSA), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, has announced that Vanessa Mae, known as Vanessa Vanakorn, has filed two appeals against the decisions taken by the Hearing Panel of the International Ski Federation (FIS) of 6 November 2014 and by the FIS Council on 18 November 2014, in relation to her qualification for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Ms Vanakorn had had three weeks in which to make her appeal.
The FIS Panel had found that Ms Vanakorn was either an active or knowing participant in the manipulation of the results of four giant slalom races that took place in Krvavec, Slovenia in January 2014 and they imposed a four-year ban on her from attending or participating in any FIS event.
The FIS Council subsequently acknowledged such decision and cancelled the results of the four races in question. As a consequence of this decision, Ms Vanakorn was no longer eligible to compete in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, where she had been the first Alpine skier ever to compete for Thailand, nor in events this coming season, and so the FIS Council submitted its decision to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for any further action in its competence.
"In appealing to the CAS, Ms Vanakorn seeks the annulment of both decisions. Two arbitration procedures have been opened and are being conducted in accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration. The CAS will not comment any further at this time," said a statement from the organisation.