Violinist to appeal ban over fixed ski races

LONDON (AP) Pop violinist Vanessa-Mae plans to file an appeal against her four-year ban from competitive skiing for taking part in fixed races before the Sochi Olympics.

Vanessa-Mae calls the sanction ''nonsensical'' and says the matter is ''now with my lawyers and we will of course be appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.''

The International Ski Federation imposed the ban Tuesday, saying four giant-slalom races in Slovenia were fixed in January to allow Vanessa-Mae to qualify for February's Sochi Games. Five ski officials also were suspended.

The celebrity musician competed for Thailand in Sochi, finishing last of 67 racers in the giant slalom.

In the statement released by her management company Friday, Vanessa-Mae says of the sanction: ''I believe that suffering a nasty experience can be turned into positive inspiration.''