ITALY: Head of troubled Austrian biathlon and cross country team asks for re-run of races after doping tests come up negative.

Record ID: 331807

  • Title: ITALY: Head of troubled Austrian biathlon and cross country team asks for re-run of races after doping tests come up negative.
  • Date: 23rd February 2006
  • Summary: SESTRIERE, ITALY (FEBRUARY 24, 2006) (REUTERS) HEAD OF AUSTRIA'S BIATHLON AND CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TEAM MARKUS GANDLER ENTERING ROOM JOURNALISTS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF AUSTRIA'S BIATHLON AND CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TEAM MARKUS GANDLER SAYING: "I'd like to start with Walter Mayer because there have been questions about why he is here and that the Austrian ski federation was made responsible for it. Its not the case. I myself asked the Austrian Olympic Committee - last summer I knew he was suspended - if he was allowed to come here to the games. Jungwirth of the Austrian Olympic Committee said to that that of course he could come. He did not have accreditation but he could move around as a private person. JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF AUSTRIA'S BIATHLON AND CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TEAM MARKUS GANDLER SAYING: "I demand, should nothing change, a rehabilitation. Two fair chances were taken from us, the Austrian Ski Federation. I can imagine a re-run or whatever the case may be. I am not going to worry too much about it" MORE OF JOURNALISTS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF AUSTRIA'S BIATHLON AND CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TEAM MARKUS GANDLER SAYING: "If it is this machine, then a lot of people made fools of themselves. I have to ask myself how WADA even got in there. no body knew about it. This is what I wanted to say: If it is this machine, which they are talking about, which I did not want to bring up because its not worth mentioning, according to extensive testimonies, there was nothing else found there, so if you have any other evidence, bring it forward and then I will be able to provide further explanation EXTERIOR POLICE STATION WHERE GANDLER SPOKE WITH ITALIAN POLICE EARLIER WITH REGARDS TO THE INVESTIGATION VARIOUS OF MR SCHMIDT, AUSTRIAN SKI FEDERATION PRESS OFFICER BEFORE THE NEWS CONFERENCE SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERATION'S LAWYER WHO IS INSIDE THE POLICE STATION
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAMGYEAJ955FRABFGOGUDSFQIE
  • Story Text: The head of Austria's biathlon and cross-country skiing teams in
    Sestriere on Friday (Febraury 24) defended his decision to allow former coach
    Marcus Mayer to the Austrian athletes' homes in the Italian winter Olympic
    mountain venues.
    The IOC said at a news conference half an hour earlier on Friday that
    all 10 Austrian competitors tested during the raid were negative.
    Austria have taken their best Olympics medal haul -- 19 medals with
    eight golds -- during the Games which close on Sunday.
    But their best performance at a Winter Games has been tarnished by
    doping allegations, triggered by coach Walter Mayer, who was banned four years
    ago, and the alleged discovery of blood transfusion equipment, syringes and
    medication.
    The IOC had said earlier it would be investigating the Austrian team's
    actions whatever the results from the tests.
    Markus Gandler, sporting director of the teams, said he had asked the
    Austrian Olympic Committee whether or not Mayer was allowed in to come to the
    Winter Olympics as a private individual.
    "I'd like to start with Walter Mayer because there have been
    questions about why he is here and that the Austrian ski federation was made
    responsible for it. Its not the case. I myself asked the Austrian Olympic
    Committee - last summer I knew he was suspended - if he was allowed to come
    here to the games. Jungwirth of the Austrian Olympic Committee said to that
    that of course he could come. He did not have accreditation but he could move
    around as a private person," said Gandler at the press conference.
    He also called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to re-run
    two races because their competitors were adversely affected by a late-night
    drugs swoop.
    Gandler said his athletes had under-performed in two races as a result
    of the raid last Saturday.
    "I demand, should nothing change, a rehabilitation. Two fair
    chances were taken from us, the Austrian Ski Federation. I can imagine a
    re-run or whatever the case may be. I am not going to worry too much about
    it," Gandler said.
    The Austrian biathlon and cross-country skiing teams have been the
    subject of an IOC and Italian police investigation after blood transfusion
    equipment was found at lodgings in the raid.
    The IOC confirmed the samples were all negative but said an IOC
    disciplinary commission would be set up soon to further investigate, given
    that the athletes or coaches could have violated other anti-doping rules such
    as possession or attempted use of banned substances or methods.
    The International Olympic Committee said Italian police were
    investigating some athletes and had yet to inform officials what equipment
    they found in accommodation used by the biathlon and cross-country teams
    during a night raid on Saturday.
    But Gandler said the machines Gandler said, as far as he knew, there
    was nothing wrong with the machines under investigation.
    "If it is this machine, then a lot of people made fools of
    themselves. I have to ask myself how WADA even got in there. no body knew
    about it. This is what I wanted to say: If it is this machine, which they are
    talking about, which I did not want to bring up because its not worth
    mentioning, according to extensive testimonies, there was nothing else found
    there, so if you have any other evidence, bring it forward and then I will be
    able to provide further explanation," Gandler said.
    Gandler spent several hours at the Sestriere police station before
    making his pronouncement at the news conference and ahead of the IOC news that
    all doping tests were negative.
    Italian authorities said they would soon inform the IOC of their
    discoveries in the athletes' homes and that evidence would also be brought
    before the commission.
    There had been rumours that Gandler may lose his job as sporting
    director ande Ski Federation President Peter Shroeksnadel said he had also
    been asked to sack him but chose not to because he trusted him.
    Arne Ljungqvist, head of the IOC medical commission, said of the
    Austrian team that what had been ruled out was the use of any stimulants,
    anabolic steroids.
    He said blood tests had started on some athletes, but others would have
    to wait until they had competed, adding that only certain types of blood
    doping can be detected by such tests.
    An Italian judicial source added to their worries. He said earlier on
    Friday that an Austrian biathlete was being investigated by police and faced a
    possible charge of withholding evidence during the raids.
    Austrian officials have become increasingly frustrated with the
    scandal, which has involved a coach being taken to psychiatric hospital, two
    athletes fleeing their quarters and the discovery of blood transfusion
    equipment in the raids.
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