Test Events Ramp Up with One Year to PyeongChang 2018 -- Federations Focus

(ATR) The International Luge Federation (FIL) will host its first International Training Week in PyeongChang from Feb. 8-14.

Athletes for all luge events except team relay will have the opportunity to test the sliding track at the Alpensia Sliding Center for the first time.

Test events following the training week include the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships and FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup.

The ISU Championships will be held at theGangneung Oval beginning Feb. 9. The championships will feature individual and team pursuit competitions. The speed skating event - Mass Start - will be added to the Olympic program for the first time in PyeongChang and featured at the championships. Mass Start is defined by the ISU as "an event in which a maximum of 28 skaters start at the same time on a 400m ice track".

The championships will conclude Feb. 12.

The FIS World Cup will take place at theBokwang Snow Park, Feb. 10-18. The World Cup will feature three freestyle ski events including Aerials, Moguls and Ski Halfpipe.

There are still 16 more test events to be completed for the 2016-2017 season.

Biathlon Athletes Seek Harsher Doping Punishments

The International Biathlon Union rejected proposals from athletes that attempt to levy harsher penalties against doping cheats.

The IBU held an extraordinary congress in Fieberbrunn, Austria on Feb. 8 ahead of the start of the IBU World Championships taking place in Hochfilzen, Austria from Feb. 9-20.

At the congress, the 46 IBU member federations voted on three proposals put forth by athletes in a letter to the IBU dated Jan. 13. The letter calls for bans of up to eight years for athletes who dope, more expensive fines to the national federations that house doped athletes and the reduction of season start quotas for countries with one or more anti-doping offenses.

While the IBU congress supported the initiatives for stronger anti-doping measures, a letter from the World Anti-Doping Agency says the federation cannot usurp the WADA doping code and impose harsher doping punishments.

The IBU says it rejected the eight-year ban proposal in order to remain code compliant with the global doping watchdogs ahead of its world championship. However, the IBU did accept the proposals to enact harsher fines to member federations and reduce seasonal start quotas beginning next season.

More than 150,000 fans are expected to attend the 2017 IBU championships across the 11 days of competition, according to the federation.

The 2017 IBU World Championships feature five disciplines for men and women along with one mixed relayevent. The five disciplines are sprint, pursuit, individual, mass startand relays.

A total of 326 athletes from 37 countries will be competing in the 49thedition of the world championships, according to the IBU. The federationsays that the event will draw a lot of media coverage withapproximately 280 journalists expected at the championships.

St. Moritz Welcomes Alpine Championships

The International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine World Ski Championships are underway in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

The 44th edition of the 12-day competition features the best skiers in the world squaring off in super-G, downhill, giant slalom, slalom, super combined and the team event.

Six-hundred athletes from 70 countries are competing for the title of world champion and the medals that accompany the top-three finishers in each discipline.

The championships began with an opening ceremony on Feb. 6 highlighted by musical and cultural performances.

The event marks the fifth time the Alpine World Championships are taking place in St. Moritz, following successful editions in 1934, 1948, 1974 and 2003. The world championships conclude on Feb. 19.

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