04/16/24
February 20, 2006
Doping Dragnet: A midnight raid, a search and seizure, and a car crashing into a police roadblock. Combined with the inquiry into the Pyleva case, I'd say that athletes' fears about Italy's anti-doping laws have come home to roost. No charges have yet been laid in the case against the Austrian nordic team.
If I were an Austrian who hadn't done anything, I'd be furious too. These kind of raids don't prevent people from doping. They just make everyone afraid. A cop in your room (or even just the prospect of a cop in your room) going through everything you own on the night before your event will screw up your rhythm, and the Austrian ski team is one of Italy's main rivals. If they weren't 100% sure they were going to find something, then someone has some 'splaining to do.
posted by chicobangs at 10:38 AM on February 20, 2006
good think pro football isn't an Olympic sport huh Ricky, huh?
posted by chucodimebag at 11:34 AM on February 20, 2006
If they weren't 100% sure they were going to find something, then someone has some 'splaining to do. posted by chicobangs at 10:38 AM CST on February 20 They were sure and they did find items involved in doping..... Italian law enforcement authorities who raided the Olympic residences of Austria's biathlon and cross-country teams early Sunday, confirmed later in the day they had found equipment involved in illegal doping activities. The one I would be upset with is the coach who showed up after being banned for 10 years and raised suspicion in the first place. I don't think Italy would have even bothered them if it hadn't been for him.
posted by skydivemom at 12:26 PM on February 20, 2006
I know that they found something. I still don't think this justifies the raid, frankly. Here's what I think: WADA and the IOC knew that the dirty coach was hanging around, and they knew he was up to no good. They didn't know which athletes were cheating, and they knew that they couldn't bust any athletes unless they had either a positive test or a witness. So they used the Italian police to make an example out of all of them. Not a single suspension or ban will come of this because they won't be able to tie the so-called doping equipment to any particular athlete. Mayer will be charged with something by the Italian police.
posted by Amateur at 01:01 PM on February 20, 2006
I agree Amateur that probably no suspensions will be handed out but I could see this coach getting banned for life and not just 10 years just for violating the ban. I on the otherhand do think the raid was justified because he was there. A coach who is known for being dirty would not be violating the ban just to wish players good luck. So I guess we agree to disagree on this one.
posted by skydivemom at 01:51 PM on February 20, 2006
I guess so, skydivemom. I think that there were ways to get the guilty party or parties without spraying everybody in sight.
posted by Amateur at 07:22 PM on February 20, 2006
Further reading: New Methods Target Drug Cheats (20 January) Olympic doping dispute is resolved (30 January) Drug Testers Like Keystone Cops (11 February) Problems At WADA Will 'Drive Innocent Athletes Out Of Sport' (17 February) Police in raid on Austrian quarters (18 February) Tired Austrians Furious After Doping Raid (19 February) Biathlon boss looks into positive sample mystery (19 February) One thing is certain: if there were any innocent athletes involved here, they got royally screwed. Only time will tell what the IOC's real role in this was, but if this is what the 'new' war on doping looks like, I don't want any part of it.