- Title: ITALY: IOC says it is not pressurising Austrian athletes and relations are fine.
- Date: 23rd February 2006
- Summary: WIDE OF PRESS HALL
- Embargoed: 10th March 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVABHDVFBYYNBP51BL6DJK6G3WKE
- Story Text: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday (February 23) that it was not pressurising Austrian athletes and relations with Austria's national committe were fine.
IOC head of communications Giselle Davies also told a news conference in Turin that the results of doping tests on the athletes should be given before the games finish on Sunday.
"...let me be very clear. There is no pressure being put on by the IOC. We understand from the Austrian national Olympic committee that they themselves have set up their own inquiry commission, which we, of course, welcome given that that will help shed light on the situation. But they are taking their responsibility to do that. There is no pressure being put on them by the IOC. There is a perfectly good relationship between the IOC and the Austrian Olympic committee," Davies said.
Italian police on Saturday raided the houses of Austrian Olympic biathletes and cross-country skiers and confiscated syringes, medication and other material, while controllers tested 10 athletes for doping.
Davies told Thursday's news conference: "Let's be a little bit careful in terms of trying to second-guess timings. But one would imagine that we should have tests back before the games are over."
The head of the Austrian Ski Federation on Thursday met an Italian prosecutor probing the possible use of illegal substances or methods by Olympic athletes.
Austria fears the IOC could ban it altogether from future Olympics. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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