Walter Mayer – FasterSkier

Italian Court Clears Mayer, Five Others of 2006 Doping Involvement

Audrey ManganJuly 6, 2012

An Italian court cleared six Austrians of involvement in the doping scandal of the 2006 Turin Olympics on Friday. Former cross-country coach Walter Mayer, ski president Peter Schroecksnadel and biathlon director Markus Gandler were cleared, along with team doctor Peter Baumgartl and skiers Martin Tauber and Jurgen Pinter. The Austrian Ski Federation released a statement following the verdict saying that the decision proves “many accusations against Austria ski federation representatives were false.” Though six walk free, three...

General News Olympics

Nearly a Decade Later, Hoffmann’s Ban Prompts Thoughts

Alex KochonDecember 8, 20117

Two years ago, Austrian cross-country skier Christian Hoffmann removed himself from the international-racing scene by retiring. That didn’t keep him out of headlines. On Monday, Austria’s anti-doping agency, NADA, handed the world champion a six-year ban from the sport. The decision was retroactive from 2009, in which Hoffman had been suspended two years for being associated with a Vienna blood bank, Humanplasma. NADA most recently found the 36-year-old Hoffmann guilty of having his blood taken...