The UIAA is pursuing disciplinary proceedings against French Ski Mountaineering athlete Patrick Blanc, who tested positive after the 2008 Patrouille des Glaciers, the long distance teams’ world championship.
The UIAA Disciplinary Commission started its work on October 6. It is chaired by the British legal expert Ian Alderson, and includes a representative from the newly formed International Ski Mountaineering Federation (IFSM) and a medical doctor. The commission must deal with the case after Blanc’s A and B samples both tested positive for recombinant EPO.
The Disciplinary Panel decided to suspend Blanc from all UIAA competitions until the disciplinary procedures against him are completed.
Blanc made an appeal against this decision on October 21, claiming that the results of the test are not fully reliable.
The UIAA Appeals Commission ruled on November 5 against the appeal. It stated that the normal course of action is to suspend athletes who have given a positive sample, and that a suspension can only be cancelled in case of exceptional circumstances, none of which were found in this case.
Blanc will therefore remain suspended until the disciplinary action against him has been completed. The UIAA is a signatory to the WADA. Therefore under Articles 10.9 and 15.4 of the WADA Code, a person who is subject to a period of ineligibility (this means being banned or suspended) cannot participate in any competition that is authorised or organised by a “signatory”. This term refers to any organisation that has signed up to the WADA Code.
The UIAA will report on the outcome of the disciplinary process as it proceeds.
