Cross-Country Ski Star Victoria Carl Embraces an Uphill Battle with Doping Scandal
Olympian Victoria Carl from Germany found with a positive doping result
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Ski sensation Victoria Carl faces a bleak future as a doping scandal looms
German cross-country skier Victoria Carl finds her dream of competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics hanging in the balance, after testing positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is currently probing the incident. If found guilty, Carl's career may very well be over.
At 29, the long-distance skier from Zella-Mehlis, who clinched gold in the team sprint at the Olympics, was found to have taken Clenbuterol during an out-of-competition doping test. All parties involved affirm that Carl was unaware of the prohibited substance being in the medication she took. In a DSV press statement, Carl expressed her hope that the circumstances surrounding the positive test will be scrutinized and given a fair evaluation. "I was ill with severe coughing fits and took medication on a doctor's orders. I was not aware that the substance I was given contained a banned component," Carl appealed[1].
Association Identifies Shared Fault with Doctor
According to the association, the athlete was prescribed the medication Spasmo Mucosolvan by a military doctor to treat acute spastic bronchitis following her last race at the Winter Military World Games in Andermatt on March 26. The doctor reportedly overlooked informing Carl of the doping-relevant ingredient or making an emergency application for a medical exemption (TUE), the DSV stated.
"The prescription was medically justifiable, but the execution was flawed," said the chief medical officer of the military competitions[1]. "The athlete holds no responsibility. She trusted the expert medical care she received within an official military competition environment."
We are dismayed by this turn of events, and we hope our statement to NADA will help from welcoming a resolution for the athlete. The DSV and the German military are staunchly advocating for Carl's acquittal, considering her circumstances[1].
A star athlete for several years, Victoria Carl has bagged numerous accolades, including winning Olympic gold in the team sprint in 2022, silver in the relay at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, and silver at the 2023 World Championships, as well as bronze at the 2025 World Championships[1].
[1] ntv.de, ses/dpa
As the investigation continues, speculation grows. If found guilty, Carl faces a ban from competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics, effectively signaling the possible end to her career as a professional skier.
Sports enthusiasts are closely following the doping scandal involving cross-country ski star Victoria Carl, with the potential implications extending to her participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite the positive test for Clenbuterol, an investigation is ongoing to thoroughly evaluate the circumstances, as Carl claims to have taken the prohibited substance unintentionally due to a prescribed medication.
