Olympic Skier Victoria Carl Faces Drug Charge After Positive Clenbuterol Test
German Olympic athlete Victoria Carl tested positive for doping substances
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German cross-country skiing champion, Victoria Carl, has landed in hot water after testing positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol during an out-of-competition doping control. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is currently investigating the matter. A conviction would likely disqualify her from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, potentially marking the end of her career.
Carl, a 29-year-old from Zella-Mehlis, has been one of the world's top cross-country skiers over the past few years. She brought home gold in the team sprint at the 2022 Olympics and added silver medals in the relay at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, as well as at the 2023 and 2025 World Championships.
The controversy began when Carl sought medical treatment for acute spastic bronchitis after her last race at the Winter Military World Games in Andermatt, Switzerland, on March 26, 2023. A military doctor, employed by the German Armed Forces, prescribed her Spasmo Mucosolvan to treat her symptoms. Unfortunately, the medication contained the banned substance Clenbuterol. According to the DSV, the doctor neglected to point out the doping-relevant ingredient or submit an emergency application for a therapeutic use exemption, which is necessary in such situations.
Carl was in the dark about the drug's contents and hoped that the unusual circumstances would be understood and fairly evaluated. "I was brutally ill with severe coughing fits and took the medication on the advice of the doctor, unaware of its content," she said in a DSV press release.
The DSV and the German Armed Forces stressed that the mistake was made by the doctor, not Carl. "The medical prescription was medically justifiable but organizationally flawed," explained the chief medical officer of the military competitions. The DSV and the Armed Forces are hopeful for a full acquittal for the innocent athlete.
Sources: ntv.de, ses/dpa
- Doping
- Winter Sports
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As the investigation continues, the cross-country skiing community awaits the outcome with bated breath. In the meantime, Victoria Carl maintains her innocence and seeks a fair evaluation of her unique situation. Stay tuned for updates in this rapidly developing story.
The positive Clenbuterol test on Victoria Carl, a renowned winter sports athlete, has thrown her career into uncertainty, as the prohibited substance is commonly associated with doping in sports. The ongoing investigation by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) may potentially bar her from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, given the seriousness of the charge.
