US skater banned for 1 year for late-night fight about noise
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Skating Union has banned two-time Olympian Mitchell Whitmore of the United States for one year after a late-night fight with a Netherlands coach outside a team hotel.
The ISU says its disciplinary panel found the 26-year-old speedskater guilty of misconduct in December during a World Cup meet in Germany.
Whitmore is banned from “participation in all ISU activities” through March 2017, the ISU says. He can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ISU’s ruling says Dutch team coach Stefano Donagrandi alleged Whitmore assaulted him after he complained about noise.
Whitmore acknowledged hitting Donagrandi after the former Olympic champion yelled insults and pushed him.
Whitmore competed in the 500-meter sprint at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, and placed ninth at the world championships in February.
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