Austrian skier Josef Strobl to compete for Slovenia next season{mosimage}Austrian Alpine skier Josef “Pepi” Strobl said Wednesday, June 2, that he would compete for Slovenia next season.

Strobl, who left the Austrian national team a few weeks ago, said he was disappointed about having been left out of the squad for the 2003 world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

“Not being nominated for the big events despite good World Cup results hurt me. I could not accept that any longer,” said the 30-year-old downhill and super-G specialist, who finished third in the overall World Cup in 1996-97 and in 1999-2000 and won six World Cup events.

He is now planing to ski for Slovenia in next season’s World Cup.

“I am glad the Slovenian federation has offered me to race for them. It would be a new challenge for me, but also very convenient training-wise,” Strobl told Austrian state radio ORF.

Austrian Ski Federation (OSV) President Peter Schroecksnadel said he regretted Strobl’s decision, but would certainly not thwart him.

By changing countries, Strobl risks a one-year lockout by FIS, the ski governing body. However, since Schroecksnadel agreed to the transfer, this ban is unlikely to be issued.

Strobl was also optimistic, saying: “Several previous cases were passed without any problems, so I expect mine to go through, too.”

Once Strobl gets clearance from FIS, he can apply for Slovenian citizenship.

The Slovenian government, which earlier approved naturalization for sprint champion Marlene Ottey, said the “procedure was in due process” and that Strobl’s naturalization application would probably be on the agenda next week.

–from AP wire reports