ITALY: Austrian ski federation president meets Italian prosecutor but avoids media.

Record ID: 331810

  • Title: ITALY: Austrian ski federation president meets Italian prosecutor but avoids media.
  • Date: 23rd February 2006
  • Summary: TURIN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 23, 2006)(REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PALACE OF JUSTICE OLYMPIC BANNER: 'PASSION LIVES HERE' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN PALACE OF JUSTICE COURTYARD SPOKESMAN FOR AUSTRIAN SKI FEDERATION, ROBERT BRUNNER, TALKING ON THE TELEPHONE IN INNER COURTYARD OF PALACE OF JUSTICE VARIOUS OF ITALIAN DEFENCE ATTORNEY FOR THE AUSTRIAN SKI FEDERATION, GIAN PAOLO ZANCAN, SPEAKING TO PEOPLE IN THE INNER COURTYARD (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN DEFENCE ATTORNEY FOR THE AUSTRIAN SKI FEDERATION, GIAN PAOLO ZANCAN SAYING: "The president (of the Austrian Ski Federation) is giving his testimony to the magistrates as a witness, therefore to do that he does not need a lawyer. I only came here to show him where the prosecutor's room is, out of courtesy, because he is a very nice man" PEOPLE WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ZANCAN SAYING: "The president (of the Austrian Ski Federation) is a very nice person and he is very serene about the whole situation" PEOPLE WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ZANCAN SAYING: "Criminal responsibility is personal, therefore if some athletes have made mistakes, the Italian law on doping dictates that they are penalised with six months to three years in jail. Obviously that is subject to the certain establishment of responsibility. However, even if that turns out to be the case, it would still be a very limited phenomenon in such a large team as the Austrian's" VARIOUS BYSTANDERS IN PALACE'S INNER COURTYARD
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5PY01N4BX11GSUVDE6YSZFBN3
  • Story Text: An Italian prosecutor on Thursday (February 23) met the head of the
    Austrian Ski Federation over the possible use of illegal substances or methods
    by Austria's Olympic athletes.
    After the meeting, Federation president Peter Schroecksnadel left out
    of view of waiting reporters.
    The Austrians have launched an investigation into night raids on
    Saturday on the team's Olympic biathletes and cross-country skiers when
    Italian police confiscated syringes, medication and other material.
    The raid was triggered by the presence of Austrian coach Walter Mayer,
    who was banned from the Olympic Games up to and including the Winter Olympics
    in 2010 for his role in a blood transfusion scandal at Salt Lake City in 2002.

    Ten athletes were tested for banned substances.
    The Austrian federation's Italian attorney, Gia Paolo Zancan,
    accompanied the president to the Palace of Justice, but not to the
    meeting.
    Zancan told reporters: "The president is giving his testimony to
    the magistrates as a witness, therefore to do that he does not need a lawyer.
    I only came here to show him where the prosecutor's room is, out of courtesy,
    because he is a very nice man."
    Asked about possible criminal proceedings, Zancan said: "Criminal
    responsibility is personal, therefore if some athletes have made mistakes, the
    Italian law on doping dictates that they are penalised with six months to
    three years in jail. Obviously that is subject to the certain establishment of
    responsibility. However, even if that turns out to be the case, it would still
    be a very limited phenomenon in such a large team as the Austrian's."
    International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokeswoman Giselle Davies told a
    news conference the results of the tests would probably be out before the
    games end on Sunday.
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