The Int'l Ski Federation (FIS) "will consider American skier Lindsey Vonn's wish to compete in a men's World Cup downhill race during a meeting in Switzerland next weekend," according to the SUNDAY TIMES. FIS Communications Manager Riikka Rakic said Sunday that "the federation has been asked by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association to address the issue." Rakic said, "Yes, we have received a request." U.S. team spokesperson Doug Haney said that the "American federation was formally backing Vonn's play by submitting the request to FIS, but added that the USSA has not handed in a detailed plan on how it could work." Haney said, "By filing the request we just wanted to create the possibility for FIS to talk about it." Vonn, a four-time overall World Cup champion, "wants to take part in the men’s downhill" at Lake Louise in Canada on Nov. 24, six days before the women race on the same course. FIS rules "do not exclude women from competing in a men’s race, but they do not allow skiers on the course a week before a race to prevent them from getting an advantage." FIS Men's Race Dir Guenter Hujara said, "There is nothing in the rules that say women are not allowed to start in a men’s event." However, he added that some issues had to be cleared: "How do you do the qualification, how do you do the starting position?" (SUNDAY TIMES, 10/28).
