Statistics and the Doping Case of Andrus Veerpalu

• Activity Number: 567
• Type: Other
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: ASA
• Author(s): Sulev Kõks*+ and Anton Terasmaa
• Companies: University of Tartu and University of Tartu

Abstract

Andrus Veerpalu is an Estonian cross-country skier who was an Olympic Gold medalist. On 29 Jan 2011 Veerpalu had an out-of-competition blood test by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In Feb 2011 a WADA lab concluded the use of recombinant Growth Hormone. The International Ski Federation (FIS) imposed a sanction of 3 years ineligibility. Veerpalu appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. I will describe the issues in the case including interactions between Veerpalu's legal team and the CAS panel. After careful deliberations and on the basis of statistical issues, in particular regarding determining the test's decision limit, the CAS panel found that FIS had failed to meet its burden of proof. For the first time ever, a CAS panel upheld an athlete's appeal of a doping charge. The panel recognized the validity of the athlete's contentions and the scientific inadequacy of WADA's data analyses. There are widespread ramifications of this case, including supporting contentions about the quality of WADA's scientific procedures by the National Football League Players' Association.