Lausanne, Switzerland - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed Monday that five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein and the German Speed Skating Association (DESG) have both filed appeals against her doping ban.

The International Skating Union (ISU) announced on July 3 that it had banned Pechstein for two years until February 2011 for blood doping due to abnormal blood values and abnormal changes of the values in various tests, most notably at the February 7/8 worlds in Norway.

Pechstein is the most decorated German Winter Olympian with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

She is believed to be the first athlete to be banned over screenings in the biological passport, which is also other sports such as cycling and various ski sports.

The ISU introduced the passport 10 years ago and under new rules since January 1 athletes can be banned over abnormal findings.

CAS is expected to rule on the issue within four months. (dpa)