"Ban marred career": Olympic medal-winning athlete prohibited

Rider evading drug screening procedures

, and Administrator

2025 September 5 . 4:03 PM

2 min read

"Olympic medalist faces career devastation after being banned"

"Ban marred career": Olympic medal-winning athlete prohibited

Double Olympic medalist Madeleine Egle, a strong contender for medals at the upcoming Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo next year, has been banned from participating due to a 20-month suspension. The Austrian Federation (ÖRV) announced the ban, which will be retroactively enforced from March 1, 2025.

The ban was imposed due to Egle missing three doping tests in 2023. In a statement, Egle expressed her disappointment with the harsh punishment, stating that her career feels like it's in ruins. She felt like a criminal during the doping investigation process, but all of her tests have been negative, and she has never tested positive for doping.

ÖRV head coach Christian Eigentler believes Egle is being "brutally punished" for administrative errors, not doping. He sees this as a case of double standards, criticizing the severity of Egle's ban compared to other athletes who have faced similar circumstances. Eigentler states that Egle is a clean athlete.

Egle admits to being negligent in reporting her whereabouts, but she left open the possibility of continuing her career after the ban. Despite the financial burden and low chances of success, she will not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Last season, Egle finished second behind Taubitz in the overall World Cup, making her a serious rival to German sliders, including Julia Taubitz. Her absence from the Winter Games will undoubtedly impact the competition.

The ÖRV President, Markus Prock, also criticized the severity of Egle's ban, expressing his support for the athlete. Egle, feeling like a criminal, has been excluded from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. However, she has not given up on her dreams of continuing her career in the sport she loves.