Member » I think initially it will be two or three and

GENEVA - Pop violinist Vanessa-Mae was banned from competitive skiing for four years on Tuesday for taking part in races that were fixed to allow her to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Sochi.The findings by the International Ski Federation exposed as a sham what many fans thought was a feel-good celebrity Olympic story.FIS also banned five race officials from Slovenia and Italy for between one and two years for their role in the scandal.Those who have been sanctioned have been sanctioned for good reason, FIS President Gian Franco Kasper told The Associated Press. At first we were laughing when we heard it. But then we realized its quite a serious thing.FIS said its hearing panel found to its comfortable satisfaction that the status of four womens giant slalom races were manipulated in January in Slovenia, a few weeks before the games.FIS detailed several rule-breaking incidents that rigged results to help the then 35-year-old Vanessa-Mae falsely improve her racer status near the OIympic entry deadline.Without the cheating orchestrated by her managers, Vanessa-Mae would not have achieved the necessary FIS point performance level to be eligible to participate in the Olympic Winter Games, the governing body said.In February at the Sochi Games, the celebrity musician who was raised in Britain raced for Thailand as Vanessa Vanakorn, using the last name of her Thai father. She finished last of 67 racers in the two-run giant slalom, more than 50 seconds behind gold medallist Tina Maze of Slovenia.Vanessa-Mae can appeal the rulings to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.But it doesnt make much difference for her, Kasper said. She was racing (the Olympics) probably only once and thats all. But in any case we prevented her from being at the next Olympics.The next Winter Games are in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.FIS said it informed the International Olympic Committee, which can disqualify Vanessa-Mae from the Sochi Olympics.The IOC declined to comment on details of the case until possible appeals are completed.Should the judgment be confirmed the IOC will act on this in the framework of its policy of protecting the clean athletes, with zero tolerance towards the manipulation of results and any related corruption, the Olympic body said in a statement.IOC President Thomas Bach was photographed with Vanessa-Mae in Sochi and later appointed her to a working group meeting helping shape future policy for the Olympic movement.FIS said the scam involved falsely inflating the quality of four qualifying races to artificially boost Vanessa-Maes standing as a potential Olympian.Race rigging included inventing times for skiers who did not race and faking times for lower-quality skiers who did finish.A previously retired competitor with the best FIS points in the competition took part for the sole purpose of lowering the penalty to the benefit the participants in the races, FIS said.Race officials also broke rules by not changing the course design between the first and second runs, and allowing skiers to continue in poor weather which required abandonment.The competitions were organized at the request of the management of Vanessa Vanankorn, through the Thai Olympic Committee in its capacity as the FIS member National Ski Association, skiings governing body said.It is unclear if Thai Olympic officials were involved in the scam, or if they will face IOC sanctions.First you would have to figure out if the Thai Olympic Committee was really involved, and we have some doubts, said Kasper, who is an IOC member.The scandal was made public in July, several weeks after the IOC appointed Vanessa-Mae to an advisory group on cultural policy. The Slovenian ski federation punished officials and sent a report to FIS.The FIS ruling council will decide on annulling the fixed races at a meeting next Tuesday.___AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Rome contributed to this report. Shawn Green Jersey . The shortstop still grieves, but it will be nights like the one Segura had in a 5-2 victory Monday over the Cincinnati Reds that will provide some distraction. Brett Butler Dodgers Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/185h-...ey-dodgers.html. During halftime, Love told The Associated Press he would receive treatment Saturday night and hoped to play Monday night against Houston. "I knew that my quad was bothering me pretty bad so I went out there and tried to move around a little bit and it just wasnt quite right," Love said. Hyun-jin Ryu Jersey . Mark Teahen scored the go-ahead run in the home seventh on an error by Scott Sizemore, who had knotted the game with a solo homer in the previous half- inning. Paul Konerko then hit an RBI single which proved to be the winning run. Los Angeles Dodgers Gear .ca. In Sundays Blackhawks-Penguins game, Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik laid a huge hit on Chicagos Jonathan Toews. Now in my view, Orpik can be clearly seen leaving his feet while delivering a moderately high hit.Manchester City owe their fans a win against Arsenal on Sunday after their disappointing Champions League semi-final exit, according to former striker Shaun Goater. After the first leg at the Etihad ended in a 0-0 draw, Fernandos 20th-minute own goal eliminated the last Premier League side in the competition on Wednesday night and sent Real through to a Madrid derby final.Goater admits City never asked enough questions of Real in a game in which they managed a solitary shot on target. Goater says the team must bounce back with three points against Arsenal to solidify their position in the top four.The best way the players can give back to the fans is by putting on a great performance to make sure we win against Arsenal to ensure we stay in the top four, Goater said, speaking on Sky Sports Now.I dont think the players will want to remember the season and that game in terms of how they whimpered out. They will want to give Manuel Pellegrini a good send off and that will come by getting a win against Arsenal to ensure they finish in the top four. Shaun Goater on Manchester City They will want to give Manuel Pellegrini a good send off and that will come by getting a win against Arsenal to ensure they finish in the top four.Citys exit to Real marks an end to a promising season in Europe in which they advanced past the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in the clubs history.Despite the progress, changes are coming at City with Pep Guardiola set to reeplace the outgoing Pellegrini and some players, including midfield stalwart Yaya Toure, look likely to move on.dddddddddddd City came up short against Real Madrid However, Goater cautioned Guardiola against changing too much, too soon at the Etihad and suspects the Spaniard may consider altering his approach after failing to advance past the Champions League semi-finals in all three of his seasons at Bayern Munich.First of all, we are excited that he (Guardiola) is coming, Goater said. In terms of changes, Im sure hell be looking and thinking there are changes needed but you do need continuity also. Pep Guardiolas Bayern Munich were knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Champions League three years in a row You cannot have six or seven changes. I think initially it will be two or three and then over time we will see more changes.Guardiola will also be thinking that is third time he has been knocked out of the semi-finals and wondering what he needs to do differently.I am sure by the start of next season he will have reflected on that and have the answers. Also See: Arsenal video Arsenal fixtures Arsenal stats Get a ￡10 free bet! ' ' '