The Austrian Olympic Committee lifted a ban Tuesday on 12 biathlon and cross-country skiing officials allegedly involved in a doping scandal at the 2006 Turin Games.
The decision could trigger action by the International Olympic Committee, which said it reserved the right to reopen disciplinary proceedings against the officials.
The Austrian committee canceled the suspension of five officials in July and dropped charges against the remaining seven on Tuesday, the AOC said in a statement.
The group, which includes the ski federation’s biathlon director Markus Gandler, biathlon coach Alfred Eder and cross-country coach Gerald Heigl, was excluded from future Olympics but will now be allowed to travel to next year’s games in Vancouver.
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One comment
chadsalmela
September 12, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I’ve had enough of Gandler. Why can’t he take his questionable bronze medal from Nagano and just, well, you know what. I wonder if they’ve got room for him on MTV Bully Beatdown? I’d at least feel better. No doubt, things will now be “much easier” for the Austrians. I hope Rogge comes down hard on the AOC. Why not a ban of the Austrian delegation? How is anyone supposed to feel good about Austrian success after this?