IOC Discounts Austrian Claim

The International Olympic Committee scoffed at Austrian claims that there were legitimate medical uses for the blood-transfusion equipment found in a house used by the nation’s cross-country skiers at the Olympics.

The Austrian ski federation said its athletes used the material for ultraviolet radiation treatment of their blood, describing the method as being “exclusively for disease prevention” and not doping.

“First, it doesn’t sound credible,” IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch said Friday. “Second, any kind of blood manipulation is part of the doping definition. The Austrian position is not relevant for me.”

World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound said, “It sounds so far-fetched that it has no credibility.”

The IOC began an investigation Thursday after cleaners found blood transfusion bags, tubes and needles in a closet in Midway, Utah, near the Nordic ski venue at Soldier Hollow. The house had been rented to the Austrian team and was used by about 10 athletes.

Austria won three Olympic medals in Nordic events. Christian Hoffmann won silver and Mikhail Botvinov bronze in the 30-kilometer race. Wolfgang Perner took the bronze in the 10-kilometer biathlon sprint.

Meanwhile, the IOC is investigating two more positive drug tests from the Games.

One case involves the steroid nandrolone, and the other involves the stimulant methamphetamine, the IOC said Friday. It didn’t identify the athletes or sports involved.