IOC tests Austrians for drugs

THE IOC’s war against doping reached new levels when IOC drug busters and Italian police raided the private quarters of the Austrian biathlon team late Saturday.

Ten athletes, six cross-country competitors and four biathletes were tested and the results will be known within 48 hours, Arne Ljunqvist, head of the IOC’s medical commission, announced yesterday.

Italian police were looking for doping equipment and also for disgraced Austrian coach Walter Mayer, who has been banned from the Olympics up to and including Vancouver 2010.

The ban came after Mayer was strongly suspected to have been involved in blood manipulation at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

No sign of Mayer was found during Saturday’s raid but police reportedly took away a stash of documents.

Austrian officials were incensed by the raids.

“We are considering making an official protest about this to the IOC,” said Markus Gandler, the technical director of the Austrian biathlon and cross-country teams.

“I just do not understand what is going on here. We have nothing to do with Walter Mayer.

“The police raid lasted about four hours. When you have around 30 policemen suddenly swoop on you, you just feel like a criminal.”

Gandler’s denial that his teams were not invloved with Mayer was quickly dismissed by the IOC who produced an official Austrian team photograph which included Mayer.

“This man is openly defying us,” said a clearly angered IOC president Jacques Rogge.

The police search and IOC out-of-competition drug raid was sparked by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report that revealed Mayer may be helping the Austrian athletes at Turin.

Austrian cross-country skier Martin Tauber was furious at the raid.

“It was a long night without sleeping. I was tested at 01:30. I was at my place and they just came in.

“They absolutely ruined the race,” said Tauber, whose team finished last in the 4X10km men’s relay yesterday.