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Kostner skips doping hearing in Schwazer case

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer

ROME (AP) — Former figure skating world champion Carolina Kostner risks punishment for skipping a hearing before Italian authorities investigating whether she was complicit in doping by her former boyfriend and Olympic race walking gold medalist Alex Schwazer.

Kostner, the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist and 2012 world champion, was to be asked by the Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping prosecutor on Friday about allegations she told judicial officials in Bolzano that she helped Schwazer evade a test and knew he slept with a banned altitude machine.

The CONI hearing was moved up a few hours on a request from Kostner, who is retired from competition, so she could prepare for the Opera on Ice show in Verona this weekend.

CONI said in a statement that Kostner’s lawyer sent an email early Friday saying she would not show up, and that one more final hearing would be scheduled.

Schwazer, who won the 50-kilometer walk at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was excluded from the 2012 London Olympics after testing positive for EPO before the games.

Prosecutors believe coaches and doctors knew that Schwazer was doping long before he tested positive, possibly dating to Beijing. He was banned by CONI for 3 1/2 years in April 2013.

The 27-year-old Kostner risks a ban of up to four years from all sports activities in Italy and abroad for aiding and failing to report Schwazer’s doping. She also risks punishment for failing to cooperate with CONI. A ban would also prevent her from appearing in non-competitive events or shows worldwide that are supported by the International Skating Union, CONI said.

Kostner has also won two silvers and three bronzes at the worlds, and is a five-time European champion. It remains unclear if she could be banned retroactively and be stripped of medals.

Ottavio Cinquanta, an Italian who is the president of the ISU and a CONI board member, said he wanted to let CONI do its job without any interference.

“I don’t know exactly what she did but she has to maintain contact with CONI,” Cinquanta told The Associated Press by phone from Milan. “But if that’s what she did, evidently it’s because she has other interests.

“The fact that people are talking about it certainly isn’t good.”

Schwazer failed an out-of-competition test before arriving in London and was removed from Italy’s team before competing. He admitted using the blood-boosting hormone EPO, and said he was quitting the sport.

Schwazer also admitted to consulting with Lance Armstrong’s banned sport doctor, Michele Ferrari.

Kostner has acknowledged accompanying Schwazer for a visit to Ferrari’s mobile office in 2010, although she maintains that she did not know he doped.

“Carolina Kostner has absolutely nothing to do with this case,” said Gerhard Brandstaetter, Schwazer’s lawyer.

However, recently published reports of Kostner’s testimony to Bolzano prosecutors revealed she allegedly admitted to lying to inspectors from the World Anti-Doping Agency who came to her home in Germany looking for Schwazer on July 29, 2012 — days before Schwazer flew to London for the Olympics.

Kostner allegedly said Schwazer told her to tell the inspectors he wasn’t home, and she carried out his instructions. She also allegedly told the prosecutors about the altitude chamber, adding that the noise it produced at night prompted her to sleep with ear plugs.

While altitude simulation chambers are not banned by WADA, they are illegal in Italy.

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Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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