Skiing: Vanessa Mae appeals to Court of Arbitration for Sport against four-year ban

Vanessa Mae: The skier is appealing her four-year ban

Skier and violinist Vanessa Mae has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her four-year ban handed out by the International Ski Federation.

Mae, the classical violinist who competed for Thailand at the 2014 Winter Olympics under the name Vanessa Vanakorn, was found guilty by the FIS last month of taking part in races which were fixed to help her qualify for the Sochi event.

The 36-year-old took part in the women's giant slalom in Sochi and finished last out of the 67 competitors.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed it had received two appeals from Vanakorn.

"The FIS Panel found that Ms Vanakorn was either an active or knowing participant in the manipulation of the results of four giant slalom races that took place in Krvavec, Slovenia in January 2014 and imposed on her a four-year ban from attending or participating in any FIS event,” CAS said in a statement.

"The FIS Council subsequently acknowledged such decision and cancelled the results of the four races in question.

"As a consequence of this decision, Ms Vanakorn was no longer eligible to compete in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and so the FIS Council submitted its decision to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for any further action in its competence.

"In appealing to the CAS, Ms Vanakorn seeks the annulment of both decisions. Two arbitration procedures have been opened and are being conducted in accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration."

FIS issued a statement in November saying that it had "found to its comfortable satisfaction" that the results of the four ladies giant slalom races in Krvavec were manipulated, especially in regard to the points awarded to Mae.

The FIS said the races were organised at the request of Mae's management company and the Thailand Olympic Committee in order to enable her to meet the Sochi qualifying criteria.