WADA says HGH test validated by skier's ban

MONTREAL (AP) The World Anti-Doping Agency says its test for human growth hormone has been validated by a ruling involving a Finnish cross-country skier.

WADA welcomed a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a decision by Finland's appeal board that exonerated Juha Lallukka over a positive HGH test.

WADA says CAS ruled that Lallukka had committed a doping violation and banned him for two years. Lallukka tested positive in 2011.

WADA says the decision ''fully answers all the issues'' raised by CAS in a previous case involving former two-time Olympic cross-country ski champion Andrus Veerpalu of Estonia.

Testing for HGH had been suspended last year after Veerpalu had his three-year ban overturned on a statistical technicality.

WADA says the new ruling ''means there is no doubt surrounding the validity and reliability'' of HGH testing.