Canada’s health regulations could pose a problem for Lake Louise, incoming athletes

According to reports out of Europe, health regulations in Canada require a two-dose vaccination to avoid quarantine when entering the country. In France and in other European countries, if someone has previously contracted Covid-19, only a single dose is needed to obtain a health passport. Many skiers on the French team are in this position, including Alexis Pinturault, according to French media.

Per usual, the season’s first World Cup speed events are scheduled for Lake Louise at the end of November, and there is speculation as to whether the French will be able to start. Because Canada requires two doses of the vaccine to avoid a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, regardless of whether a person has had Covid or not, it will be difficult for many athletes on the French speed team to travel to Lake Louise without receiving the second dose of the vaccine.

So, will Lake Louise commence without Alexis Pinturault and other partly vaccinated athletes?

“For the moment we do not have a solution to vaccinate our athletes a second time,” said French team doctor Stéphane Bulle. There is, however, another option — quarantine for two weeks — which is a tall order, if not impossible, for athletes during that time of year.

The alpine team is not the first French team to run into trouble with vaccine requirements. The French national rugby team also faced the same dilemma last week, resulting in the forfeiture of a tournament in Vancouver and Edmonton, according to reports.

A meeting of FIS’ medical committee is scheduled for Oct. 1 to try and find a solution, say reports.