ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Austrian National Olympic Committee (NOC) Secretary-General Heinz Jungwirth interviewed over doping affair and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Record ID: 331837

  • Title: ITALY: OLYMPIC GAMES - Austrian National Olympic Committee (NOC) Secretary-General Heinz Jungwirth interviewed over doping affair and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
  • Date: 26th February 2006
  • Summary: CLOSE UP: OLYMPIC PASS OF HEINZ JUNGWIRTH
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAA48HCC548X10M5RORWCG43E9N
  • Story Text: Austrian National Olympic Committee (NOC) Secretary-General Heinz Jungwirth said on Saturday (February 25) that there was no bad blood between his committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following a doping affair which lasted one week and which affected Austrian athletes' performances at the Turin Winter Games.
    "The authorities handled this case like this and therefore I had no complaints about it and we fully agree how it was. It took a while because they wanted to check it carefully and therefore we are much more happy now that everything is said and that there is a positive result. It is a negative doping result," Jugwirth told Reuters Television.
    "Before and now after this situation, there is an absolutely great situation and relation with the IOC. We were always supported in our doing and we always confirmed to the IOC that we will do everything and we set up a commission to clarify the cases. We do not want to put something under the table. We just want to clarify and this was well accepted by the IOC, as far as I heard," he added.
    The International Olympic Committee on Friday (February 24) pledged to continue its investigation into the Austrian biathlon and cross-country skiing teams despite negative drugs test on 10 of their athletes at the Games.
    Urine samples were taken from the athletes last Saturday (February 18) at homes of the teams competing in the Games during a night-time drugs swoop which was done jointly with Italian police authorities.
    The two Austrian teams have since been the subject of an IOC and Italian police investigation after drugs and blood transfusion equipment was found at the lodgings.
    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.
    But despite the continued investigation, Jungwirth said the clean test results were enough good news to lift the spirits in the Austrian camp.
    "I can tell you it's a great feeling. It's absolutely different to the few days before and I want to really congratulate all these sportsmen that there has been nothing found, but really nothing that should show that there is any doping case around. It is really positive, not the test, but the result for our athletes and I am very happy that they have now a much better feeling," Jungwirth said.
    Austria have taken their best Olympics medal haul -- 19 medals with eight golds -- during the Games which close on Sunday (February 26).
    But their best performance ever at a Winter Games has been tarnished by the doping allegations, triggered by coach Walter Mayer, who was banned four years ago but reappeared near the athletes at the Games, and the alleged discovery of blood transfusion equipment, syringes and medication.
    The IOC is still waiting for information from Italian authorities on anything they found during the raid.
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