"Grandma Luge" six-time Olympian, Canada appeal rejected

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Turin, Italy (dpa) - Anne Abernathy, better known as "Grandma Luge" has become a six-time Olympian without competing, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced on Saturday after a settlement on the issue was reached.

But the CAS turned down a Canadian appeal for the race referee to re-examine the February 15 500m short track final to determine whether Bulgarian Evgenia Radanova illegally kicked out at Canadian skater Anouk Leblanc-Boucher.

Radanova got silver behind Chinese winner Wang Manli, Leblanc-Boucher took bronze in the race. A hearing before CAS was held Friday, but CAS ruled that the result stands.

Abernathy, a 52-year from the US Virgin Islands wanted to appear on the start list for Monday's and Tuesday's women's luge competition even though she she fractured her wrist in Sunday practice.

The CAS said that a settlement was reached at a hearing.

"The representatives of the International Luge Federation have offered to write to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to request that the name of Ms Anne Abernathy be included on the results list of the women's luge event without a start number but with the notation "DNS". The proposal was accepted by Ms Abernathy," said the CAS in a statement.

As a result, the popular Abernathy will join a small number of athletes who have competed at six Olympics. She made her debut in the sport at the 1988 Games in Calgary.