Olympic Champion Victoria Carl Faces Lengthy Ban After Positive Doping Test
Milan, Italy – Cross-country skier Victoria Carl, gold medalist in the team sprint at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, will miss the 2026 Winter Games after testing positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance. The German Ski Association (DSV) confirmed the positive test came from a sample taken during the Military World Cup following the 2023 World Cup season, where Carl finished second overall.
According to Carl and the DSV, the clenbuterol entered her system through a cough syrup administered by a Bundeswehr doctor. However, national coach Peter Schlickenrieder emphasized, “But other people’s mistakes or ignorance do not protect against punishment.”
The positive test effectively rules Carl out of all competitions and training with the German team. She recently shared on Instagram about moments where she felt like “giving up,” and on Tuesday described experiencing a “very hard time” while hoping for a positive outcome – a hope that has not materialized. Unlike tennis player jannik Sinner, who received a three-month suspension, carl faces a potentially far more significant ban.
The case echoes past doping controversies involving clenbuterol, a substance previously linked to German sprinter Katrin Krabbe and cycling stars like Alberto Contador. A similar situation occurred in 2016 with Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid Clostebol found in a cream prescribed by a team doctor for a sunburn; she ultimately received an 18-month ban.
Schlickenrieder stated Carl was positioned to potentially win an individual medal at the milan World Championships. He expressed sympathy for Carl, noting, “Of course I feel sorry for someone who loves cross-country skiing so much and lives the way she does.”
Carl could face a ban of up to four years, potentially sidelining her until the winter of 2027/28, after missing the 2027 World Cup in Falun. She has expressed hope for a “timely, appropriate decision that will at least enable me to realistically continue my career.”
(Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid)
