Agency Report –
German biathlete Vanessa Voigt will not compete in any more races until the World Championships in mid-February due to health and fitness problems.
The German Ski Association announced on Friday that the 27-year-old will skip the rest of the World Cup on home snow in Ruhpolding and the World Championships dress rehearsal next week in Antholz/Anterselva, Italy.
The worlds take place in Lenzerheide in Switzerland February 12-23.
“She has left and is back home,” sporting director Felix Bitterling said in a statement. “She should rest for a few days, then a few check-ups will be carried out to make 100% sure that everything is medically OK.”
Voigt, the number two in the German women’s team behind World Cup leader Franziska Preuss, fell ill at the end of last year and has still not fully recovered. Having started once in Oberhof last week and once in Ruhpolding, she fell far short of expectations.
Young prospect Julia Tannheimer will also miss the remaining races in Ruhpolding, meaning she is also not available for either the relay on Saturday or the mass start on Sunday.
She is “not really fit either,” Bitterling added. On Thursday, the 19-year-old had to withdraw from the individual race at short notice due to a bronchial infection.
“We will decide at the beginning of the week whether she will start in Antholz,” he said.
