The controversy surrounding Vanessa-Mae’s participation in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics has had a new twist, with the IOC deciding that although Mae’s participation has been retrospectively cancelled, meaning that it is as if she had not taken part, she can be called an Olympian.
The controversy centres on how Mae qualified to represent Thailand, her father’s home nation, in skiing events at the Sochi Games. An investigation after the Olympics found that a pre-Games event in which Mae accrued enough points to be allowed to compete was rigged. The IOC announced that Mae, who had finished in 67th and last place in the giant slalom, should have her participation cancelled and be banned for four years from competing. However, this decision was overturned following an appeal by Mae last June. A Court of Arbitration for Sport said that although the qualifying events may have been rigged, there was no evidence that Mae herself was aware of that. “I was so relieved to have completed both runs at the Winter Olympics, even if it was only to claim last place. I’m over the moon that I’m still an Olympian – it’s fantastic news and such a positive start to 2016!” Mae told the BBC. She plans to return to competitive skiing in March and aims to compete in the 2018 Games in South Korea.
