Ski federation suspends Accola
The Swiss ski federation on Tuesday suspended one of the country's leading World Cup skiers, Paul Accola, citing disciplinary problems.
The director of the federation, Jean-Daniel Mudry, sent Accola home from a week-long promotional session with the team’s sponsors and equipment suppliers in the resort of Zermatt.
Accola, 33, was late for the start of the session on Sunday. He has been suspended with immediate effect and indefinitely.
“In the past, Paul Accola on various occasions fell short of the behaviour that can be expected from a great champion,” the federation said in a statement. It said it would decide on his future “in the coming week”.
Accola, who won the overall World Cup title in 1992, commented: “It’s probably better if I say nothing.”
It is not the first time Accola has run into trouble. He was fined nearly two years ago for critical remarks against the federation. He also fell foul of the authorities by calling for the resignation of the team’s trainers in a television interview.
Accola had a disappointing season in 1999, winning just one medal – a bronze – in a combination race. However, he had given no indication that he wanted to retire.
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