Claudia Pechstein Resolves 16-Year Legal Battle with Skating Federation

The Olympic speed skating champion and the ISU reached an undisclosed settlement, ending a dispute over a controversial doping suspension.

Claudia Pechstein and the International Skating Union (ISU) have reached a settlement, concluding a legal battle that lasted over 16 years.
The dispute began in 2009 when Pechstein was suspended for two years due to irregular blood values, which she attributed to a hereditary blood disorder rather than doping.
Pechstein had sought damages totaling €8.4 million, claiming the suspension was unjust and caused significant harm to her career and reputation.
The settlement details have not been disclosed, but Pechstein's team described the resolution as 'clear and conciliatory,' with further announcements expected from the ISU and a press conference planned next week.
This case highlighted broader concerns about the fairness of arbitration in sports, with Germany's Federal Constitutional Court ruling in 2022 that Pechstein's initial arbitration process was unfair.