Press Release | Torino 2006: Six Austrian Athletes Declared Permanently Ineligible

25 April 2007 – The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today unanimously decided to declare permanently ineligible six athletes from the Austrian biathlon and cross-country skiing teams who competed at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games (see full details below). This decision excludes them from taking part in any future Olympic Games in any accredited capacity – be that as an athlete, coach, official, etc.

The EB approved the recommendations of the Disciplinary Commission (DC) set up by the IOC in February 2006 and composed of Dr Thomas Bach (chairman), Denis Oswald and Sergey Bubka.

IOC sets up Disciplinary Commission (DC)
4 December 2006

DC meets in Kuwait and makes a request to the Italian authorities that the process be fast-tracked in order that the issue may be resolved before the major competitions of the winter sport season commence.
16 January 2007

DC receives a report from the Italian authorities.
9 February 2007

DC calls for a first round of hearings
4-5 April 2007

DC holds first round of hearings
25 April 2007

DC makes first recommendations to the IOC Executive Board
May 2007

DC to hold second round of hearings

DECISIONS BY THE IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
RE VIOLATIONS OF THE IOC ANTI-DOPING RULES DURING THE TORINO 2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

Name of athlete: Roland Diethart, AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board

- The athlete Mr Roland Diethart:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay;
ii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austrian Men’s 4×10 km Relay team is disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Johannes Eder, AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Johannes Eder:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s Team Sprint;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay; and
iii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austrian Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay teams are disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Juergen Pinter , AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- Mr Juergen Pinter:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s Team Sprint;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay; and
iii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austrian Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay teams are disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Martin Tauber, AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s 30 km Pursuit, Men’s 15 km Classical and Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Martin Tauber:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 30 km Pursuit, in which he placed seventeenth;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 15 km Classical, in which he placed eighth, and his diploma is withdrawn;
iii. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay;
iv. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austian Men’s 4×10 km Relay teams is disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The Austrian Olympic Committee is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the athlete in the Men’s 15 km Classical.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Christian Hoffmann

Sport: Cross Country

Applied for accreditation but did not take part in the Games

- The charges against Mr Hoffmann are dismissed; and
- The case is transferred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski with a recommendation that it consider whether Mr Hoffman’s absence from the Torino Olympic Games constituted a violation of his obligation to provide accurate whereabouts information.

Name of athlete: Wolfgang Perner, AUT

Sport: Biathlon

Event and result: Men’s 20 km Individual, Men’s 10 km Sprint and Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Wolfgang Perner:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 20 km Individual, in which he placed 60th;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 10 km Sprint, in which he placed 4th, and his diploma is withdrawn;
iii. is disqualified from the Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit, in which he placed 25th; and
iv. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The International Biathlon Union is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the International Biathlon Union to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The Austrian Olympic Committee is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the athlete in the Men’s 10 km Sprint.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Wolfgang Rottmann, AUT

Sport: Biathlon

Event and result: Men’s 10 km Sprint Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Wolfgang Rottman:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 10 km Sprint, in which he placed 27th;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit, in which he placed 21st; and
iii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The International Biathlon Union is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the International Biathlon Union to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.