The German Olympic champion in cross-country skiing, Victoria Carl, will miss the Winter Olympics in February 2026 after her positive doping test in the summer. Participation is “excluded based on the current status of the procedure,” said the German Ski Association (DSV).
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the German Ski Association (DSV) immediately before the start of the new World Cup season for cross-country skiers in Ruka, Finland. An official verdict from NADA is still pending.
As the DSV announced, Carl “remains temporarily excluded from training and competition due to suspicion of a doping violation (…)”. NADA wrote about a sanction proposal for a two-year ban, which it issued on September 22nd. Since then, Nada and Carl have been negotiating “the amicable termination of the sports law proceedings”. According to Nada, in the further course of the proceedings a decision will be made on whether to accept the sanction decision or whether to initiate disciplinary proceedings before the German Sports Arbitration Court.
Carl tested positive for the active ingredient clenbuterol
The 30-year-old Thuringian tested positive for the active ingredient clenbuterol in a sample at the end of July after the last World Cup season, which she finished in second place overall. As Carl and the DSV stated, the active ingredient was contained in a cough syrup that was administered to the athlete by a Bundeswehr doctor.
Carl was disappointed by the ban: “It was a very hard time in which I always hoped that everything could turn out for the better,” the Olympic champion is quoted as saying in the DSV’s statement. “It is still difficult for me to accept that carelessness and incorrect medical treatment will now lead to my Olympic dream being shattered. At the same time, I hope for a timely and appropriate decision that will at least enable me to realistically continue my career.”
