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Former Olympian Bauer sues CFSA, doctor over concussions suffered in training

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Canada\'s Veronika Bauer tries to correct her landing during a qualifying jump Saturday February 20, 2010 in the women\'s aerial competition at Cypress Mountain during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Former Olympic aerials skier Bauer is suing the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association for negligence in relation to a series of concussions she suffered while active in the sport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tara Walton

VANCOUVER – Former Olympic aerials skier Veronika Bauer is suing the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association for negligence in relation to a series of concussions she suffered while active in the sport.

Bauer filed a civil claim with the Supreme Court of British Columbia last Thursday, naming the CFSA and Dr. Jeffrey Purkis as defendants.

In the claim, it’s alleged that Bauer was cleared to return to competitive skiing by Purkis in 2013 after suffering a concussion during training the previous year. She suffered another concussion in 2013, which left her with “severe and continuing concussion symptoms,” the claim said.

“The plaintiff remains unable to work as a consequence of her injuries and her ability to fully function in day to day life has been impaired,” lawyer Alex Sayn-Wittgenstein alleges in the document.

Bauer alleges she should not have been cleared to participate in the training camp and was not given a proper assessment by Purkis. Bauer also claims that a doctor with the team recommended to the CFSA that she should not be cleared to participate in the 2013 camp, and that she did not learn of this assessment until after her concussion.

She is seeking damages for pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of earnings and loss of earning potential, as well as legal costs and compensation for family members who have provided services for her due to her injuries. None of the allegations has been proven in court.

“In consultation with our legal team, we are currently reviewing this claim,” the CFSA said in a statement. “Once we have gathered all the facts and the required information, we will determine next steps.

“The CFSA addresses any claims in a serious and timely matter. The health of our past and current athletes has always been, and will continue to be, our utmost priority.”

Bauer, from Toronto, won the 2001 world title as well as four World Cup gold medals over her career. She participated in the Olympic Games in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

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