Fight Against Doping -- More Doping Arrests, Extended Ban Upheld

(ATR) More Austrians were invested in a doping ring... An appeal of an extended ban for doping was upheld.

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Walter Mayer was arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of supplying athletes with doping products. (Getty Images) More Doping Arrests in Austria

Three unnamed suspects have been arrested in an Austrian doping scandal that has erupted over the past few weeks.

Nordic skiing coach Walter Mayer and cycling manager Stefan Matschiner were arrested in the last two weeks, with public prosecutors making the announcement of the new arrests on Thursday.

Mayer and Matschiner were arrested under accusations of supplying doping products to athletes.

A pharmacist in Vienna was arrested and later released after it was alleged he supplied athletes with doping products.

Mayer has been implicated in doping scandals at the last two Winter Olympics, leading to his banishment from the Games.

CAS Upholds Extended Ban for Olympian

The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal of an extended ban against an Olympic equestrian rider. Christian Ahlmann’s eight month ban was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (Getty Images)

Ahlmann of Germany was found to have doped his horse Coster with capsaicin at the Beijing Olympics. He was originally suspended for four months by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). The German federation wanted a harsher penalty and appealed that decision and had the ban extended to eight months. Ahlmann appealed that decision, but CAS sided with the national federation.

His suspension will last until April 20.

In addition to the ban, Ahlmann is required to pay the German federation more than $4,000 to cover legal expenses.

Capsaicin is used in horses to relieve pain and increase the animal’s sensitivity.

IOC, WADA, Back GAIFS Initiative

Both the IOC and World Anti Doping Agency have backed a plan from the General Association of International Sports Federations to provide anti-doping support to the world’s international federations.

As announced at Sportaccord in Denver, Colo., last week, GAISF will provide centralized anti-doping advice, support and services to IFs that need them, with the objective of ensuring that the federations are WADA Code compliant. IOC and WADA will contribute funds to support the program.

“The IOC is happy to support this cooperative effort to help International Sports Federations fight doping,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “We have to work together to rid sport of cheaters. The IOC is more than ever committed to that effort, and welcomes this new initiative.”

“Through unity and synergies, we believe that the world of sport will be stronger when tackling global challenges together,” added GAISF President Hein Verbruggen. “Anti-doping is a major issue for IFs today, and organizing together the fight against doping will enable us to reduce costs and the administrative burden on IFs. This is one of GAISF’s commitments: better service and support for our members.”

Media Watch

The Boston Herald says soccer needs to subscribe to WADA’s anti-doping rules.

An editorial in the Cycling Weekly calls for an end to the Alejandro Valverde “farce.”

Written by Ed Hula III.

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