Slovenia's ski association "has suspended four officials for manipulating race results to allow famed violinist Vanessa Mae to compete" at the 2014 Sochi Games in February, according to the AFP.
The 35-year-old Mae, racing under the name Vanessa Vanakorn, "came last in the Olympic giant slalom." The Slovenia ski association (SZS) said that "it had found evidence that races held in Slovenia earlier this year had been fixed to make sure Vanakorn could travel to Sochi."
The SZS added that the fixing "was done at the request of Thai officials."
The four "suspects in the scam, who face suspensions of up to four years," included SZS Head of Alpine Skiing Vlado Makuc (AFP, 7/12). In Bangkok, Kittipong Thongsombat reported Thai Olympic officials "have denied any part in the alleged rigging of results" that allowed Mae to ski for the country in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Thailand National Olympic Committee President Gen Yutthasak Sasiprabha said on Saturday that "no Thai officials including any NOCT members were involved in the alleged scam." He said, "Our duty was only to endorse her and send her to compete the Games." He added that Thailand "has no ski association in charge of the sport" (BANGKOK
POST, 7/13).
