Manager: Pechstein gets clearance to skate

BERLIN (AP)—Speedskater Claudia Pechstein’s manager says that Switzerland’s highest court has cleared her to compete at a World Cup event as she prepares her appeal against a blood doping ban.

Manager Ralf Grengel says the Federal Tribunal granted Pechstein an injunction on Tuesday and she can compete in a 3,000-meter event on Friday in Salt Lake City.

The 37-year-old German has never failed a drug test and denied doping.

She said she would take her case to the Swiss court after the Court of Arbitration for Sport last month upheld her suspension until February 2011.

Pechstein said she hopes to “get the chance to qualify for the Olympics.”