MILAN, Jan. 30, 2026 – U.S. skeleton athlete Katie Uhlaender has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging Canada’s decision to pull four athletes from a key race earlier this month, a move that dashed her chances of qualifying for the Winter Olympics.
The withdrawals occurred during the IBSF North American Cup Race in Lake Placid on January 11, shrinking the field and limiting the ranking points available. This development ended the two-time world champion’s bid for the Milano Cortina Olympics, set to begin February 6 in Italy.
Background on the Dispute
Although the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) recently cleared Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) of any misconduct following an investigation, Uhlaender seeks a reversal through CAS. She argues the Canadian action breached the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions and violated the IBSF Code of Conduct by BCS coaches.
In her appeal, Uhlaender demands full ranking points from the affected race to restore her qualification status. The 41-year-old competitor, who earned a best Olympic finish of fourth in 2014, claims the withdrawals manipulated outcomes, affecting athletes from more than five countries, including Denmark, Israel, and Malta.
Canadian Side’s Explanation
BCS stated the athletes were withdrawn due to safety issues, acknowledging an unintended reduction in field size that influenced qualification points for the Olympics and World Cup events.
Uhlaender’s CAS challenge represents her final effort to secure a spot on the U.S. team for the upcoming Games.
