Andreas Castiglioni has been appointed as sport director for natural track by the International Luge Federation ©FIL

Italy’s former world and European athlete Andreas Castiglioni has been appointed as sport director for natural track by the International Luge Federation (FIL).

The 37-year-old takes over from Chris Karl, who has held the post since 2014.

It follows the decision of the FIL Steering Committee to support the proposal of Peter Knauseder, a vice president for natural track luge.

Castiglioni has competed as a natural track luger since 1998, winning silver in the men's singles at the 2005 FIL World Natural Track Championships in Latsch, Italy.

Andreas Castiglioni has been given a key natural track luge role ©Wikipedia
Andreas Castiglioni has been given a key natural track luge role ©Wikipedia

He also won silver in the men's singles event at the 2004 FIL European Natural Track Championships in Huttau, Austria.

While the FIL World Luge Championships have run on artificial tracks since 1955, the FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships were introduced in 1979.

They have taken place on an almost annual basis since then in non-Winter Olympics years.