Hirscher fined for ‘straddling’

Austria’s Marcel Hirscher has been fined for twice failing to stop after straddling gates in recent World Cup slaloms, the International Ski Federation (FIS) said yesterday. 

Winner of five races this winter, Hirscher was disqualified in the last two slaloms he entered - in Wengen and Kitzbuehel - but still skied down the piste, breaking FIS rules. 

FIS considers that skiers generally realize it when they straddle, the fine for each offence 999 Swiss francs ($1,000). 

Hirscher has courted controversy over the past week after being suspected of straddling a gate in his victory in another slalom in Zagreb on Jan. 5. 

While his team admitted the offence after viewing videotapes, no action was taken and rival teams said they would not protest due to a lack of evidence.