18-month suspension for an Olympic champion and world runner-up, with impressive results at competitions in Romania

Victoria Carl has two Olympic medals (gold and silver) and two world medals (silver and bronze) in cross-country skiing. But this year, in Milan-Cortina, she was unable to defend her Olympic title won in 2022, in China, because she was temporarily suspended for doping.

Victoria Carl, suspended for 18 months, after testing positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance

Last year, she tested positive for a banned substance, clenbuterol, which acts similarly to adrenaline and amphetamines and is popular in bodybuilding for rapid weight loss.

At the same time, clenbuterol has many risks and side effects, with no long-term studies related to the safety of using this substance, which has been banned by the International Olympic Committee.

In June 2025, the German Ski Association demanded the acquittal of Victoria Carl, claiming that the drug containing the banned substance was delivered to her by mistake. The 30-year-old athlete also said she was unaware that the cough medicine she was prescribed contained clenbuterol.

The German Court of Arbitration for Sport was unimpressed by these arguments and announced on Thursday, April 2 that Victoria Carl had received an 18-month ban. Taking into account the period of provisional suspension, the German will be able to return to competition after November 25.

Originally from Zella-Mehlis, Carl is still a member of the hometown club. She has been competing in ski competitions since 2010 and has had impressive results in cross-country skiing even in Romania.

At the European Youth Olympic Festival (FOTE) in Brașov (2013), she won 4 medals, two gold and two silverand 3 years later, in 2016, at the U23 World Championships in Râșnov, she won two medals, one gold and one silver.