Austrians indicted after involvement in 2006 doping raid

By Published On: June 7th, 2009Comments Off on Austrians indicted after involvement in 2006 doping raid

The Associates Press reported yesterday that ten former and current members of the Austrian Ski Federation have been indicted by Italian prosecutors for their involvement in a blood-doping scandal during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

According to the Austrian Press Agency, those indicted include: Markus Gandler, the federation’s biathlon sports director; Walter Mayer, former Austria coach and the federation’s president Peter Schroecksnadel. Mayer was also in involved in a doping investigation at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

The controversy came to light after a raid by Italian police uncovered large amounts of “doping products and equipment” at the Austrian cross-country and biathlon team housing at the Games.

The APA reported that additional individuals to be indicted include: former cross-country coach Emil Hoch, former biathletes Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottmann, cross-country skiers Martin Tauber, Johannes Eder and Juergen Pinter, and doctor Peter Baumgartl.

The International Olympic Committee fined the Austrians $1 million following the Torino raid, as well as handing down lifetime bans to four involved athletes.

The trial is scheduled to begin in October, according to Austrian broadcaster ORF.

Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press and the Austrian Press Agency.

The Associates Press reported yesterday that ten former and current members of the Austrian Ski Federation have been indicted by Italian prosecutors for their involvement in a blood-doping scandal during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

According to the Austrian Press Agency, those indicted include: Markus Gandler, the federation’s biathlon sports director; Walter Mayer, former Austria coach and the federation’s president Peter Schroecksnadel. Mayer was also in involved in a doping investigation at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

The controversy came to light after a raid by Italian police uncovered large amounts of “doping products and equipment” at the Austrian cross-country and biathlon team housing at the Games.

The APA reported that additional individuals to be indicted include: former cross-country coach Emil Hoch, former biathletes Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottmann, cross-country skiers Martin Tauber, Johannes Eder and Juergen Pinter, and doctor Peter Baumgartl.

The International Olympic Committee fined the Austrians $1 million following the Torino raid, as well as handing down lifetime bans to four involved athletes.

The trial is scheduled to begin in October, according to Austrian broadcaster ORF.

Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press and the Austrian Press Agency.

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