View source for Kaisa Varis

{{Infobox skier <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Ski -->|
name             = Kaisa Varis
| image            =
| caption          =
| fullname =
| nationality      ={{FIN}}
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1975|9|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Ilomantsi]], [[Finland]]
| club = Joensuun Hiihtoveikot
| seasons           = 10 – ([[1995–96 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|1996]]–[[2002–03 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2003]], [[2004–05 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2005]]–[[2005–06 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2006]])
| wins              = 2
| totalpodiums      = 9
| teamwins          = 2
| teampodiums       = 3
| individual_starts =54
| team_starts = 11
| wcoveralls        = 0 – (8th in [[1999–00 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2000]])
| wctitles          =0
| medaltemplates   =
{{Medal|Country|{{FIN}}}}
{{Medal|Sport|Women's [[cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skiing]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships|2001&nbsp;Lahti]]|15&nbsp;km&nbsp;classical}}
{{Medal|Disqualified|[[2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships|2003&nbsp;Val&nbsp;di&nbsp;Fiemme]]|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;5&nbsp;km&nbsp;relay}}
{{Medal|Disqualified|[[2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships|2001&nbsp;Lahti]]|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;5&nbsp;km&nbsp;relay}}<ref>Teammates [[Milla Jauho]] and [[Virpi Kuitunen]] tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and the team was disqualified.</ref>
}}
'''Kaisa Varis''' (born 21 September 1975, in [[Ilomantsi]]) is a [[Finland|Finnish]] retired [[cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skier]] and [[biathlete]]. Her career has been marred by [[Doping (sport)|doping]] convictions: as a cross-country skier, she was involved but not suspended in a doping scandal and in 2003 she was suspended two years for doping use. After her suspension, she returned as a [[Biathlon|biathlete]] in 2007, but in 2008 she received a lifetime ban from all [[International Biathlon Union]] (IBU) competitions after another positive doping test. However, her lifetime ban was overturned in March 2009 because the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] ruled that the IBU failed to adhere to correct testing procedures; she remains eligible to compete in biathlon.
==Career==
===Cross-country skiing===
In cross-country skiing, Varis competed from 1995 to 2006. Her biggest success was the win of the bronze medal in the 15&nbsp;km at the [[2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships]], but she is better known for her [[Doping (sport)|doping]] controversies at those championships: Varis was part of the 4 × 5&nbsp;km relay that was disqualified when fellow skiers [[Virpi Kuitunen]] and [[Milla Jauho]] were disqualified for taking [[hydroxyethyl starch]], a banned [[blood plasma]] expander. Varis was originally implicated, but later was cleared in this scandal.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pettersson|first=Tomas|date=2008-01-25|title=Nu får Finland än en gång leva med skammen|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/langdskidor/nu-far-finland-an-en-gang-leva-med-skammen/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=[[Expressen]]|language=sv}}</ref>
Varis's best individual finish at the [[Winter Olympics]] was fourth in the 15&nbsp;km at [[Salt Lake City]] in [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]]. She also has ten individual career victories at various distances from 1998 to 2002.
Two years after the first doping incident, at the [[2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships|2003 World Championships]] in [[Val di Fiemme]], she was suspended for five days before the event's start due to a high [[hemoglobin]] count, though was allowed to compete when a second test came back five days later with a lower count. Varis attended the 30&nbsp;km event, but was later disqualified for taking [[Erythropoietin|EPO]], an endurance-enhancing drug, and served a two-year suspension as a result.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/2850705.stm | title = Finnish skier fails drugs test | publisher = BBC News | date = 2003-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Pomp and Unsettling Circumstances Open Games | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/11/sports/olympics/11ceremony.html | work = New York Times | first = Lynn | last = Zinser |author2=Macur, Juliet | date = 2006-02-11}}</ref>
Though she qualified, she did not compete in the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in Torino, because she was excluded by [[Finnish Olympic Committee|Finland's Olympic committee]].<ref name="iht-first"/>
===Biathlon===
Varis switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon and made her debut in the [[Biathlon World Cup]] on March 2, 2007, in [[Lahti]], [[Finland]], by finishing 70th in the 7.5&nbsp;km sprint race. On November 30, 2007, she finished fifth in the 7.5&nbsp;km sprint event in [[Kontiolahti]]. On January 11, 2008, Varis scored her first victory in a biathlon World Cup race in the 7.5&nbsp;km sprint event in [[Ruhpolding]], [[Germany]],<ref name="iht-first">{{cite news | title = Kaisa Varis of Finland, banned twice for doping, wins first biathlon World Cup event | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/11/sports/BIA-Biathlon-World-Cup.php | publisher = International Herald Tribune | date = 2008-01-11}}</ref> but it was later voided because of her positive doping test.
On January 24, 2008, it was made public that at least the A sample from a test for prohibited substances on January 6 had again tested positive for EPO. Varis denied any doping.<ref>{{cite news | title = Finnish biathlete Kaisa Varis tested positive for doping in World Cup event | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/24/sports/EU-SPT-BIA-Doping-Varis.php | publisher = International Herald Tribune | date = 2008-01-24}}</ref> However, on January 31, 2008, the [[International Biathlon Union|IBU]] announced, that the B sample confirmed the results; due to this case, the Finnish Biathlon Association did not register Varis for the [[Biathlon World Championships 2008|2008 World Championships]].<ref>{{cite press release | title = Establishment of Adverse Analytical Finding in the Case of Ms Kaisa Varis/Finland | publisher = International Biathlon Union | date = 2008-01-30 | url = http://www.biathlonworld.com/eng/news/page_000055_884.htm | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080203180423/http://www.biathlonworld.com/eng/news/page_000055_884.htm | archive-date = 2008-02-03 }}</ref> Despite her first ban coming as a cross-country skier, she was considered a repeat offender by the [[International Biathlon Union|IBU Executive Board]] and banned from the sport for life on February 11, 2008.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/01/31/doping.varis.ap/ | title = Biathlete Varis faces life ban threat | publisher = CNN | date = 2008-01-31}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | title = Case Kaisa Varis | publisher = International Biathlon Union | url = http://www.biathlonworld.com/eng/news/page_000055_920.htm | date = 2008-02-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516071033/http://www.biathlonworld.com/eng/news/page_000055_920.htm | archive-date = 2008-05-16 }}</ref>
In March 2008 she announced her intention to appeal to overturn the ban.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/18032008/73/doping-taeterin-legt-berufung.html | title = Doper Lodges Appeal | publisher = Eurosport | date = 2008-03-18}}</ref> In March 2009, the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] ruled that the International Biathlon Union had violated Varis' rights under the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]]'s code by refusing to allow her or a representative to be present when her backup sample was opened for testing. Because of that, her backup sample could not be used as evidence against her, and her ban was overturned.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/more/03/13/biathlete.ban.ap/index.html Finnish Biathlete Avoids Lifetime Ban]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} SI.com, March 15, 2009</ref>
==Cross-country skiing results==
All results are sourced from the [[International Ski Federation|International Ski Federation (FIS)]].<ref name="FISprofile">{{cite web |url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sector=CC&competitorid=63695&type=st-WC |title=VARIS Kaisa|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=FIS-Ski |publisher=International Ski Federation |access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref>
===Olympic Games===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; border:grey solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse; background:#ffffff;"
! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:60px;"|&nbsp;Year&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:40px;"|&nbsp;Age&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;10&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;15&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;Pursuit&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;30&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;Sprint&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;4&nbsp;×&nbsp;5&nbsp;km&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;relay&nbsp;
|-
| [[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics|2002]] || ''26'' ||[[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 10 kilometre classical|—]] ||[[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 15 kilometre mass start|4]] || [[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 2 x 5 kilometre pursuit|12]] || [[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 30 kilometre classical|—]] || [[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's sprint|23]] || [[Cross-country skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 4 × 5 kilometre relay|7]]
|-
|}
===World Championships===
* 1 medal – (1 bronze)
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; border:grey solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse; background:#ffffff;"
! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:60px;"|&nbsp;Year&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:40px;"|&nbsp;Age&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;5&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;10&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;15&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;Pursuit&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;30&nbsp;km&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;Sprint&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"| &nbsp;4&nbsp;×&nbsp;5&nbsp;km&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;relay&nbsp;
|-
| [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1999|1999]] || ''23'' || — ||{{n/a}} ||44 || — || —|| {{n/a}} || —
|-
| [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2001|2001]] || ''25'' || {{n/a}} || 7 ||bgcolor="cc9966"|'''Bronze''' || 6 ||  {{Abbr|CNX|Cancelled}}{{ref label|cancelled|a|1|}} || — || style="background:#000000; color:white"|{{Abbr|DSQ|Disqualified}}
|-
| [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2003|2003]] || ''27'' || {{n/a}} ||— ||{{Abbr|DNS|Did not start}} ||—|| style="background:#000000; color:white"|{{Abbr|DSQ|Disqualified}} || — || style="background:#000000; color:white"|{{Abbr|DSQ|Disqualified}}
|-
|}
{{refbegin}}
:'''a.''' {{note label|cancelled|a|1}} Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.
{{refend}}
===World Cup===
====Season standings====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; border:grey solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse; background:#ffffff;"
! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:60px;" rowspan="2" |&nbsp;Season&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#369; color:white; width:40px;" rowspan="2" |&nbsp;Age&nbsp;
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white;" colspan="5" |Season standings
|-
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"|Overall
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"|Distance
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"|Long Distance
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"|Middle Distance
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:75px;"|Sprint
|-
| [[1995–96 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|1996]] || ''20'' ||{{Abbr|NC|Not classified}}   || {{n/a}} ||  {{n/a}}  || {{n/a}} ||  {{n/a}}
|-
| [[1996–97 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|1997]] || ''21'' ||{{Abbr|NC|Not classified}}   || {{n/a}} ||  {{Abbr|NC|Not classified}}  || {{n/a}} ||  —
|-
| [[1997–98 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|1998]] || ''22'' || 71  || {{n/a}} ||  45 || {{n/a}} ||  —
|-
| [[1998–99 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|1999]] || ''23'' ||  34  || {{n/a}}  ||  48 || {{n/a}} ||  25
|-
| [[1999–00 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2000]] || ''24'' || 8  || {{n/a}}  || 4 ||8 || 25
|-
| [[2000–01 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2001]] || ''25'' ||12 || {{n/a}}  ||{{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || —
|-
| [[2001–02 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2002]] || ''26'' || 25 || {{n/a}}  ||{{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 73
|-
| [[2002–03 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2003]] || ''27'' ||  26  || {{n/a}}  ||{{n/a}} || {{n/a}}||—
|-
| [[2004–05 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2005]] || ''29'' || {{Abbr|NC|Not classified}}   ||  {{Abbr|NC|Not classified}}   ||{{n/a}}  || {{n/a}} || —
|-
| [[2005–06 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2006]] || ''30'' || 70 || 53  || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || —
|-
|}
====Individual podiums====
*2 victories
*9 podiums
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; border:grey solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse; background:#ffffff;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="background-color:#369; color:white;"| No.
! style="background-color:#369; color:white;"| Season
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:120px;"| Date
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:190px;"| Location
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:170px;"| Race
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:100px;"| Level
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white;| Place
|-
| align=center|1 ||rowspan=5 align=center|'''[[1999–2000 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|1999–00]]'''|| bgcolor="#BOEOE6" align=right| 8 January 2000  || align=left|  {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Moscow]], Russia || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"| 15&nbsp;km Individual F || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|World Cup || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|'''1st'''
|-
| align=center|2 || align=right| 3 March 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Lahti]], Finland || 1.2&nbsp;km Sprint F ||World Cup || 3rd
|-
| align=center|3 || align=right| 11 March 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Oslo]], Norway || 30&nbsp;km Individual C ||World Cup || 3rd
|-
| align=center|4 || align=right| 17 March 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bormio]], Italy || 5&nbsp;km Individual C ||World Cup || 3rd
|-
| align=center|5 || align=right| 18 March 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bormio]], Italy || 10&nbsp;km Pursuit F ||World Cup || 3rd
|-
| align=center|6 ||rowspan=2 align=center|'''[[2000-01 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2000–01]]'''|| align=right| 25 November 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Beitostølen]], Norway  || 10&nbsp;km Individual C || World Cup || 2nd
|-
| align=center|7 || bgcolor="#BOEOE6" align=right| 29 November 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Beitostølen]], Norway || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|5&nbsp;km  Individual F || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|World Cup || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|'''1st'''
|-
| align=center|8 ||rowspan=2 align=center|'''[[2002-03 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2002–03]]'''|| align=right| 12 January 2003 || align=left| {{flagicon|EST}} [[Otepää]], Estonia  || 15&nbsp;km Mass Start C || World Cup || 3rd
|-
| align=center|9 || align=right| 25 January 2003 || align=left| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Oberhof, Germany|Oberhof]], Germany || 10&nbsp;km Mass Start C || World Cup || 3rd
|-
|}
====Team podiums====
* 2 victories
*3 podiums
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; border:grey solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse; background:#ffffff;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="background-color:#369; color:white;"| No.
! style="background-color:#369; color:white;"| Season
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:120px;"| Date
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:190px;"| Location
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:170px;"| Race
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white; width:100px;"| Level
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white;| Place
! style="background-color:#4180be; color:white;"| Teammates
|-
| align=center|1 ||rowspan=1 align=center|'''[[2000–01 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2000–01]]'''|| bgcolor="#BOEOE6" align=right|25 November 2000 || align=left| {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Beitostølen]], Norway || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"| 4 × 5&nbsp;km Relay C/F|| bgcolor="#BOEOE6"| World Cup || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|'''1st''' || [[Pirjo Muranen|Manninen]] / [[Milla Saari|Jauho]] / [[Virpi Kuitunen|Kuitunen]]
|-
| align=center|2 ||rowspan=1 align=center|'''[[2002–03 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2002–03]]'''|| align=right| 19 January 2003 || align=left| {{flagicon|CZE}} [[Nové Město na Moravě|Nové Město]], Czech Republic || 4 × 5&nbsp;km Relay C/F || World Cup || 3rd || [[Kirsi Välimaa|Välimaa]] / [[Aino-Kaisa Saarinen|Saarinen]] / [[Elina Hietamäki|Hietamäki-Pienimäki]]
|-
| align=center|3 ||rowspan=1 align=center|'''[[2005–06 FIS Cross-Country World Cup|2005–06]]'''|| bgcolor="#BOEOE6" align=right|15 January 2005 || align=left| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Val di Fiemme]], Italy || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"| 4 × 5&nbsp;km Relay C/F|| bgcolor="#BOEOE6"| World Cup || bgcolor="#BOEOE6"|'''1st''' || 	[[Aino-Kaisa Saarinen|Saarinen]] / [[Virpi Kuitunen|Kuitunen]] / [[Riitta-Liisa Roponen|Roponen]]
|-
|}
==See also==
*[[List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*{{FIS cross-country skier|63695}} Accessed 2008-01-29
*{{cite web | url = http://data.biathlonworld.com/data/archives.aspx?IbuId=BTFIN22109197501 | title = IBU Profile of Kaisa Varis | publisher = International Biathlon Union | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080211234825/http://data.biathlonworld.com/data/archives.aspx?IbuId=BTFIN22109197501 | archive-date = 2008-02-11 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varis, Kaisa}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ilomantsi]]
[[Category:Finnish female biathletes]]
[[Category:Finnish female cross-country skiers]]
[[Category:Finnish sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Doping cases in biathlon]]
[[Category:Doping cases in cross-country skiing]]
[[Category:Cross-country skiers at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:FIS Nordic World Ski Championships medalists in cross-country skiing]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from North Karelia]]