Bloddoping scandal grows: 21 practitioners under suspicion

It attracted international attention, as the authorities during the WORLD cup in nordic skiing in February carried out a series of raids and arrested several athletes for doping abuse. Especially the pictures of Max Hauke, who was taken in flagrante delicto in the middle of a blood transfusion, made an impression.

Now tells the public prosecutor in Munich, that explores 21 different cases – with both male and female practitioners in the centre.

It tells the lawyer Kai Gräber Wednesday at a news conference in the southern German city.

- investigated bloddoping among the 21 practitioners. Both male and female, says Gräber according to Südkurier.

the Statement comes in the context of the tenth of the establishment of the state attorney's dopingafdeling.

- Many are involved, but it is not all that aware of it, says Gräber, however, will not come out with the nationalities of the authors.

However, it is quite certain that they come from five different sports. Three of them are winter sports. And transfusionerne has taken place mainly in Europe – but even in Hawaii, and in Pyeongchang, which carried out the winter OLYMPICS last year.

According to authorities, they received the 21 practitioners, a three-digit number of blood transfusions between 2011 and 2019.

A series of cross country skiers in action during the WORLD cup in Seefeld. Photo: Lisi Niesner/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Key in this investigation is doctor Mark Schmidt. The authorities have detained Schmidt and three others in their network, and now a fifth person has also been arrested.

According to Kai Gräber is a courier, who allegedly transported bloddoping and conducted blood tests.

- We have a very exciting story, where the last chapters are not written yet, says Gräber.

the Police have found out that Mark Schmidt collected between 4000 and 12.000 euro per practitioner per year.

In connection with the sweeps are in Seefeld made the German authorities, a search of some premises in Erfurt, which was believed to be Mark Schmidt's base.

- the Organization is built up as a mafiaorganisation with Schmidt in the top and clear tasks that each should perform. Who should move the blood bags from A to B, who should give blood and so on, told efterforskningsleder in the austrian police, Dieter Csefan, in this context.