Schröcksnadel defends ÖSV: “We’re great at spoiling our nests”

“Ultimately it certainly doesn’t damage our image because doping affects all nations,” said the Tyrolean on Monday evening Hello TV. But in this country they are particularly good at one thing: “We are great at polluting our nests.”

When it came to the topic of doping, an otherwise extremely harmonious interview suddenly became emotional. Schröcksnadel sees the ÖSV as being unfairly portrayed in a bad light. “If the association had supported doping, or if the association's doctors had done it, I would agree. “But that wasn’t the case,” emphasized Schröcksnadel. Schröcksnadel knew nothing Schröcksnadel experienced four major doping scandals during his 31 years in office, one of the most impressive at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, when he stated to the international press: “Austria is too small a country to make good doping.” His now legendary quote Schröcksnadel still considers this to be appropriate. “The English may have been spotty, but the content was XNUMX percent correct.”

For Schröcksnadel, this is shown not least by the doping raid at the World Cup in Seefeld 2019. As part of “Operation Aderlass”, the ÖSV cross-country skiers Dominik Baldauf and Max Hauke were arrested, and the German mastermind Mark S. was only sentenced to prison in January was sentenced to four years and ten months. In the course of the affair last year, Gerald Heigl, an ÖSV cross-country skiing coach, was also found guilty of contributing and was banned for life under sports law. Similar to the repeatedly scandalized Walter Mayer, once the head coach “father” of the so-called Austrian cross-country skiing miracle.

Operation Aderlass made headlines around the world. © APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH

According to Schröcksnadel, it was assumed that the ÖSV was involved in the Aderlass case. “It was a German doctor who recruited athletes. It's like parents who have children who take drugs: they're the last to know. You can never avoid doing something that is not allowed. This can happen again and again.” In terms of sports law, the doping scandal resulted in guilty verdicts against Hauke, Baldauf, Harald Wurm and Martin Stockinger, among others. Johannes Dürr, who was exposed at the 2014 Olympics, was also convicted and banned for life as a repeat offender.

The doping scandal at the 2006 Olympics in Italy is particularly difficult for the long-time president. Looking back, Schröcksnadel does not see an ÖSV scandal here. Because: “It was an Olympic team, it wasn’t an ÖSV team. At that time, Mr Jungwirth was general secretary of the Austrian Olympic Committee. They were responsible for the Olympic team.” Acquittal for the ÖSV boss Although Schröcksnadel did not deny that the later convicted biathletes Wolfgang Rottmann and Wolfgang Perner were also ÖSV athletes, he reiterated several times: “In Turin, all but the two biathletes were acquitted by the Italian court.” In addition to Rottmann and Perner, he was later expelled Cross-country skiing coach Emil Hoch, who was excluded from the ÖSV (banned by WADA until 2023 as a doping supporter), was sentenced to conditional imprisonment and unconditional fines in Italy in July 2012. The six other defendants, including Schröcksnadel, were acquitted. Schröcksnadel’s conclusion: “It wasn’t a scandal. The scandal was that one was made of it.”

Schröcksnadel will hand over his position in June after 31 years of service. He did not want to comment on the ongoing search for a successor - former ski racer Michael Walchhofer is likely to be in pole position. “I don’t want to get actively involved, but I will have my opinion,” said the 79-year-old.

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Schröcksnadel defends ÖSV: “We’re great at spoiling our nests”

Peter Schröcksnadel vehemently defended the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) in a balance sheet meeting in view of the doping scandals during his time in office.

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