Johannes Dürr, 32, was convicted of taking the growth hormone EPO in 2014 and suspended for life by Austrian authorities. Last year he told his story on German ARD’s documentary. His confession sparked “Operation Aderlass”, German for “Operation Bloodletting”, and resulted in raids at the Nordic skiing world championships in Austria and Germany in February 2019.
Top Austrian skier Max Hauke was caught red-handed doping in one raid. A policeman later leaked a video of Hauke getting a transfusion during the Nordic Ski World Championships.
In court Dürr confessed how he started doping -- with help from former Austrian Ski Federation (OeSV) coach Walter Mayer, later with German doctor Mark Schmidt.
"As I see it, it's impossible to race at the very top without doping," Dürr said in court.
According to the German public prosecutor who is investigating “Aderlass”, Schmidt is suspected of helping 21 athletes of eight nationalities across five sports with blood doping, reported AFP.
In addition, an Innsbruck court fined Dürr €720 (US $790). The former athlete also must reimburse €52,000 ($57,000) he earned through sports fraud.
Austrian national cross-country ski coach, Gerald Heigl, got a 12-month suspended prison sentence and a €3,120 fine. Dürr and Heigl have both said they will not appeal these punishments.
