ROME - Facing a lengthy ban, former figure skating world champion Carolina Kostner claimed in an interview Tuesday that she had nothing to do with the doping case involving her former boyfriend and Olympic race walking gold medallist Alex Schwazer. Rashaan Gaulden Panthers Jersey .The Italian Olympic Committees anti-doping prosecutor recommended Friday that Kostner be banned for four years and three months — longer than the 3 1/2-year ban that Schwazer is serving — for helping Schwazer evade a test and other infractions.If I knew Alex was doping I would have convinced him to confess, for his own health, Kostner told the Fatto Quotidiano newspaper. Being accused of aiding him is intolerable for me. Ive never doped, Ive never helped Alex dope and I knew nothing about it until the test came up positive. How is it possible that they seek a heavier ban for me compared to so many athletes banned for doping?The prosecutors request was made as part of a widespread doping inquiry set off when Schwazer tested positive for EPO before the 2012 London Olympics.The 27-year-old Kostner, the 2014 Olympic bronze medallist and 2012 world champion, is taking this year off from competition but a long ban would rule her out of the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and could end her career.Her case will now be decided by CONIs internal doping court.Schwazer, who won the 50-kilometre walk at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, failed an out-of-competition test before arriving in London and was removed from Italys team before competing. He admitted using the blood-boosting hormone EPO, and said he was quitting the sport.Schwazer also admitted to consulting with Lance Armstrongs banned sports doctor, Michele Ferrari.Kostner has acknowledged accompanying Schwazer on a visit to Ferraris office in 2010, although she maintains that she did not know he doped.However, published reports of Kostners testimony to prosecutors in Bolzano showed she admitted to lying to inspectors from the World Anti-Doping Agency who came to her home in Germany looking for Schwazer on July 30, 2012 — days before Schwazer flew to London for the Olympics.Ultimately, the WADA inspectors caught up with Schwazer in Italy and thats when he tested positive.I had just a few seconds to decide what to do, Kostner said. I lied on his request. But I never — never — covered for him, because I had no idea what he was doing.Kostner was also questioned by prosecutors about a banned altitude chamber that Schwazer slept with.He explained that it was to help his breathing, Kostner said. I was so happy that he finally came to see me for a couple of days that I wouldnt have lost time discussing it.Thinking it over, I shouldnt have had so much trust, Kostner added. But when you see a machine you dont associate it with doping.Kostner has also won two silvers and three bronzes at the worlds, and is a five-time European champion. It remains unclear if she could be banned retroactively and stripped of medals.I could skate just for myself and do shows all over the world, Kostner said.However, a CONI ban would likely prevent her from performing in shows supported by national or international sports federations.Speaking at an anti-doping convention Tuesday, CONI president Giovanni Malago expressed sympathy for Kostner and displeasure with WADAs rules, which punish those covering up doping more severely than the dopers themselves.As a friend of Carolinas I think this situation is unfair, Malago said. But as CONI president, I realize we must follow WADAs rules. Custom Carolina Panthers Jerseys .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. D.J. Moore Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released veteran guard Davin Joseph, a mainstay on their offensive line over the past eight seasons. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-da-norris-searcy-blue-jersey/ . Spieth again showed game well beyond his 20 years with a 9-under 63 on the North Course, giving him a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink going into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open.The St. Louis Blues need to put a rough ending to the regular season behind them if they want to get past the defending Stanley Cup champions in the opening round of the playoffs. The struggling Blues hope to get back on track when they host the Chicago Blackhawks in Thursdays Game 1 encounter at Scottrade Center. Heading into the final week of the regular season, St. Louis was in the running to capture the Presidents Trophy as the leagues top point-earning team. Instead, an 0-6-0 skid knocked the Blues out of first place in the Central Division, where they finished a point behind the Colorado Avalanche to earn a much-tougher first-round matchup against a Chicago team that has won two of the last four Stanley Cup titles. St. Louis went 3-2-0 in the season series against the Blackhawks, with two of those wins coming in a shootout. Chicago, though, has won seven of the 10 all- time playoff series between the Central Division rivals. While this will mark the 11th all-time playoff series for these two clubs, they are meeting for the first time since the Blues ousted the Blackhawks in five games of the 2002 conference quarterfinals. The good news for St. Louis is that it is getting healthy. Vladimir Tarasenko is set to return while forwards David Backes, Vladimir Sobotka, Brenden Morrow and Patrik Berglund are considered questionable for the start of this series. T.J. Oshie has been ruled out for the game however. "Were going to have everyone back at some point in the first round," Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said on Wednesday. Ryan Miller was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline and enters this series as the No. 1 netminder for the Blues. St. Louis hopes Miller can help the club get out of the first round after it fell in six games to Los Angeles in the opening series last spring. Torrey Smith Jersey. Miller was 10-8-1 with a 2.47 goals against average and .903 save percentage in 19 starts with the Blues and is 25-22 lifetime in the postseason with a 2.47 GAA and .917 save percentage. That includes two deep runs with the Sabres in 2006 and 07. Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford didnt slow down after helping Chicago win the Cup a season ago as he went 32-16-10 with a 2.26 goals against average and .917 save percentage in 59 games, including 56 starts. Crawford is 21-15 with a 2.04 GAA in the postseason. Like the Blues, Chicago played the end of the regular season without some key players but the Blackhawks are as healthy as they can be since forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have been declared ready to go for Game 1. Kane missed the final 12 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury, while Toews sat out the last six with an upper-body issue. Toews, the team captain, won the Conn Smythe Trophy when Chicago won it all in 2010 and Kane claimed the playoff MVP award last spring. "Im excited to get things going," said the reigning Conn Smythe winner. "Ive watched a lot of hockey lately, so its going to be nice to play in some games now." The return of Kane and Toews bulks up Chicagos talented top-six that also includes Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and the up-and-coming Brandon Saad. Chicago won the Central Division last season in a lockout-shortened campaign and battled its way to a second Stanley Cup title in four years. 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