ITALY/AUSTRIA: IOC will probably open disciplinary tribunal against Austrians as athletes continue training.
Record ID:
331759
ITALY/AUSTRIA: IOC will probably open disciplinary tribunal against Austrians as athletes continue training.
- Title: ITALY/AUSTRIA: IOC will probably open disciplinary tribunal against Austrians as athletes continue training.
- Date: 22nd February 2006
- Summary: SAN SICARIO, ITALY (FEBRUARY 21, 2006) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR HOUSE WHERE AUSTRIAN BIATHLON SKIERS ARE STAYING, SIGN READING 'AUSTRIAN SKI TEAM' BIATHLON ATHLETES GETTING OUT OF CAR AND TAKING THEIR GEAR INTO HOUSE (ONE ATHLETE SAYS 'TALK TO OUR MANAGER') AUSTRIAN ATHLETES AND COACH ALFRED EDER WALKING TOWARDS THE HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSTRIAN BIATHLON COACH ALFRED EDER SAYING: "The ski federation will give a press conference very shortly, when we know more. And I also need to know more because I don't know. It's complete chaos right now. There are so many rumours. People said I was arrested, but as you can see I am here. There's not much more we can expect. The sportsmen are on the ground, I am on the ground. We need a fresh start" EXTERIOR BIATHLON ATHLETES' HOUSE
- Embargoed: 9th March 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVADQLVH7N5H9HL8746HMFOZXESM
- Story Text: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will probably launch a
disciplinary investigation to probe possible doping violations by the
Austrian biathlon and cross-country skiing team even without a positive doping
test, it was announced on Tuesday (February 21).
Angered by Austria's decision to snub an Olympics ban imposed on coach
Walter Mayer and allow him to come to Turin to meet athletes, the IOC said a
probe into potential anti-doping violations would probably start soon.
Mayer was banned by the IOC until and including the 2010 Winter Games
after a blood doping scandal he was involved in during the 2002 Salt Lake City
Olympics.
The World Anti-Doping Agency tipped off the IOC that Mayer was spotted
near the athletes and the IOC informed police.
A night-time police and IOC doping raid on the two teams' quarters in
San Sicario and Pragelato on Saturday found syringes, drugs and blood
transfusion equipment. Ten of the athletes were also tested for drugs.
The Austrians claim the equipment and drugs were used for haemoglobin
testing.
Under its anti-doping rules the IOC could sanction the Austrians even
if none of their athletes test positive, if there is an attempted use or
possession of prohibited substances or methods.
Giselle Davies, the IOC director of communications, told reporters on
Tuesday: "In due course the IOC, one would imagine, will receive
information from the Italian authorities once their work has been completed
and conducted and once they feel they are at a stage where they can give us
information. As I mentioned yesterday, it's likely in due course an IOC
disciplinary commission will be set up and of course it would ask -- and hope
to get -- information that would help it in its disciplinary work."
She said in due course the IOC would receive information from the
Italian authorities regarding exactly what had been found in the raid.
Davies said the athletes' doping tests were still ongoing and results
would be issued soon.
Sources close to the procedure have said the Austrians could be
sanctioned in the same way two Greek sprinters were forced to withdraw from
the Athens 2004 Games and are still provisionally banned from competing
without ever testing positive.
They had failed to appear for a doping test on the eve of the Games.
The banned coach, Mayer, stayed last weekend at a house in Pragelato
Plan, the same village where Austria's cross-country athletes have a base. A
neighbour said that the police arrived on Monday evening and searched the
apartment above his where Austrians were living.
The coach for the Austrian Olympic biathlon team said it was time to
put an end to the chaos and the rumours and to start afresh.
Depressed by the doping saga swirling round their team, Austria's
biathletes finished last in Tuesday's men's Olympic 4x7.5-km relay, more than
six minutes behind winners Germany.
Coach Alfred Eder said the rumours were getting out of hand.
"The ski federation will give a press conference very shortly,
when we know more.. and I also need to know more, because I don't know. It's
complete chaos right now. There are so many rumours. People said I was
arrested but as you can see I am here. There's not much more we can do now.
The sports men are on the ground, I am on the ground, we need a fresh
start," Eder said.
Austrian athletes training for Wednesday's (February 22) cross-country
event in Pragelato Plan said their team was preparing as usual.
"The training went OK and all is alright," said cross-country
skier Harald Wurm.
Wurm refused to comment further on the raids.
The gloom surrounding the team worsened when biathletes Wolfgang Perner
and Wolfgang Rottmann were banned from the Turin Games after leaving without
telling their national committee. Austria's ski federation is also trying to
find out why one of their cross-country coaches suddenly left the Winter
Olympics after the visit by banned coach Walter Mayer prompted police raids on
the team.
Police and doping controllers swooped on the athletes' accommodation
late on Saturday and in the following days two athletes as well as coaches
Emil Hoch and Roland Diethart went back to Austria.
"Diethart departed correctly, he officially signed out. As for
Emil Hoch, there are other reasons for his departure which we are
examining," a ski federation spokesman said.
He said Hoch's departure appeared to be linked to Mayer's return to
Austria after the raids. He did not know exactly when Hoch went away and said
Diethart left on Monday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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