Maier Celebrates Too Hard

Bormio, Italy, Mar. 19 (AP by Erica Bulman)–Austrian star Hermann Maier is accused of celebrating his World Cup ski titles by getting thrown out of a nightclub for lewd behavior and vandalizing public property.

“We are not doing anything for the time being,” said Gian Franco Kasper, president of the International Ski Federation. “As soon as we get the facts we’ll see if we need to take any measures.”

The partying began hours after Maier added the giant slalom crown to his titles in the downhill, super-G and overall. He became only the third skier to earn four World Cup crowns in a season.

Patrons at the “King’s” nightclub said Maier arrived drunk just before 2 a.m. Sunday and stripped to his underwear. He tore open the shirt of a woman he was dancing with, according to a witness, a press official. The skier was later thrown out of the disco.

Policemen who refused to give their names said they caught Maier trying to topple a telephone booth and knocking over trash bins. No report was filed.

Austrian coach Hans Pum admitted Maier broke a telephone and said he will pay for it.

“I spoke with the police and I spoke with organizers and now everything is OK,” Pum told The Associated Press.

Kasper said while Maier was no longer “on duty,” he still represented the World Cup and regulations require “sportsmanship behavior” from its skiers.

Last season, a week before the world championships in Vail, Colo., Maier and teammate Andreas Schifferer were accused of stealing a bicycle and damaging a car during a night of partying following World Cup ski races.

Copyright (c) 2000 The Associated Press