Veerpalu Joins Rising Kazakh Star's Team
Retired Estonian cross-country skier Andrus Veerpalu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has taken an adviser post for the season on Kazakhstan skier Alexey Poltoranin's team.
"I had to think about it and discuss it with my family, but it is definitely a great challenge," Veerpalu told ETV on Friday.
Poltoranin, 26, has won two World Championship bronze medals, in classic and sprint races.
"He is definitely a really strong skier and a great classic skier, perhaps one of the best classic skiers last year, so this is an especially attractive job offer," Veerpalu said.
"I will be responsible for his skis, helping him choose his skis, testing the skis. My position might change later as well, maybe concerning technique and those kinds of things, but that will become clear in the course of our cooperation," Veerpalu said.
In a high-profile court case against the World Anti-Doping Agency earlier this year, Veerpalu was acquitted of doping charges due to problems with the statistical model for evaluating his results.
