WADA Appeals Ruling That Made Lund Eligible

The World Anti-Doping Agency has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the Olympic eligibility of U.S. skeleton racer Zach Lund.

Lund was publicly warned but not suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Jan. 23 after testing positive for finasteride -- a banned steroid-masking agent -- in November. The USADA’s warning made him eligible to compete at the Turin Games, which open Feb. 10.

WADA spokesman Frederic Donze said Friday that the appeal would be heard by CAS’ special committee on Olympic issues, based in Turin. He said he didn’t know when the case would be heard but expected it to be by the end of next week.

The men’s skeleton competition is scheduled for Feb. 17, and the U.S. Olympic Committee has said Lund will race. Lund, who was the overall World Cup leader before being sanctioned, said the positive result stemmed from his use of a hair-restoration product.

Finasteride has been on the banned list since 2005. Two athletes, tennis player Mariano Hood and soccer player Nemanja Vucicevic, were banned for taking the drug last year.

The World Anti-Doping Code recommends a two-year suspension for a first serious doping violation, and it has the right to appeal any decision it feels to be too lenient or incorrect.