Bobsleigh star Francesco Friedrich’s team has been stripped of a world Cup victory following a doping violation by teammate Simon Wulff, handing the win to Johannes Lochner. The decision comes as Wulff faces a 21-month suspension stemming from a positive doping test.
The case centers around a prohibited substance detected in Wulff’s sample, though the athlete, cooperating with investigators, has been unable to determine its origin. The retroactive ban, effective since december 2024 and extending to September 2026, definitively rules Wulff out of contention for the 2026 Winter Olympics and prevents his return to competition before September 7, 2026. While the team’s result in Altenberg was annulled, Lochner has voiced criticism that the sanction doesn’t go far enough, as Wulff also competed in Sigulda and Winterberg, raising questions about the validity of those results.
Despite extensive examination, Wulff coudl not identify the source of the banned substance found in his system, according to reports. The suspension, beginning in December 2024, will last until September 2026. This disqualification impacts Friedrich’s competitive standing, specifically costing him the World Cup win now awarded to Lochner.
Lochner expressed concerns that the disciplinary action was limited, noting that only the Altenberg race result was overturned despite Wulff’s participation in additional competitions. He indicated it is improbable further results will be invalidated.