The main defendant, Mark S., took note of the verdict almost motionless, hopes for a mild punishment were quickly ended after the decisive words of the presiding judge Marion Tischler. Four years and ten months imprisonment, a three-year professional ban and a fine of 158,000 euros is the penalty for the Erfurt sports medicine specialist in the largest doping trial in recent history.
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Almost two years after the sensational raids of Operation Aderlass, the Regional Court of Munich II found Mark S. guilty of the use of doping methods in 24 cases and of the illegal placing of drugs on the market in two cases. This also includes the offense of dangerous bodily harm.
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“You are the head of this ‘doping system’, that’s what I call it. You have instrumentalized your social environment in a certain way,” said Tischler, who found clear words for the fact that S. of a sportswoman was not allowed to use one Drug administered. This was a “human experiment” and “beyond any ethical standards”.
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Mark S., dressed in a dark blue sweater and dark gray trousers, followed the verdict carefully, taking notes now and then. In their plea, his defense lawyers considered a three-year sentence to be appropriate, and the public prosecutor’s office had demanded five and a half years’ imprisonment and a five-year professional ban.
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Doping doctor showed remorse
The co-defendants were also convicted. Dirk Q. received two years and four months probation, the nurse Diana S. one year and four months probation. The paramedic Sven M. (320 daily rates at 20 euros) and Ansgard S., father of Mark S. (280 daily rates at 35 euros), got away with fines. All judgments are not yet final.
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S. had clearly shown remorse in his closing remarks a week earlier. The court also interpreted the extensive cooperation with the investigative authorities to mitigate his sentence. “You have understood what is wrong there. This is a development process that we have noticed,” said the judge. The handover of a Slovenian cell phone was a “massive help”, “without which the process would not have taken place in this form”.
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In the justification for the professional ban, however, Tischler also stated: “You have not stopped. These are courses of action that are decisive for the forecast decision”. It cannot be ruled out that similar violations of the law will happen again:
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We do not believe that a mere sentence of punishment is sufficient.
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Doping expert: punishment just right
“It’s a tough sentence, but just right,” said sports law expert Michael Lehner to SID: “The anti-doping law has passed its baptism of fire.” The process, which lasted almost four months, was the first major “stress test” for the new regulations adopted in 2015.
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Lehner also pointed out the great importance of a leniency program. “Mark S. accepted a severe punishment. I wonder why he did that?” Said the lawyer, “a leniency program could reward willingness to clarify the background. That has not happened now. More clarification through I would have liked the accused. “
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“At last we are witnessing a verdict that includes draconian penalties for fraudsters in sport,” said DOSB President Alfons Hörmann: “This is an extremely important signal to world sport as a whole and valuable confirmation for all those who support fair play Respect and practice thoughts. “
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Sports committee chairman Dagmar Freitag emphasized:
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The criminal networks have now clearly seen that serious doping offenses can be punished with a not inconsiderable prison term.
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Operation Bloodletting: No new names
However, one of the experts’ hopes that new names would come to light in the course of the negotiation was not fulfilled. The involvement of 23 athletes from eight countries is still known. Among other things, prominent sporting events such as the Olympic Games in 2014, 2016 and 2018, the Tour de France 2018, the Giro d’Italia 2016 and 2018 and the Vuelta 2017 were affected.
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At the Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld 2019, the doping network imploded as a result of Operation Aderlass. The pictures of the Austrian cross-country skier Max Hauke, who was caught red-handed during a blood transfusion, went around the world. S. was arrested almost at the same time in Erfurt and has been in custody ever since. This time counts towards his sentence.
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The accused’s confessions during the trial provided deep insights into the system. Passages of the statements reminded of a crime thriller, the plot of which stretched from Tallinn to Falun to the Zillertal and through hotel rooms, costume shops and furniture stores – and ultimately ended in court.
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You might also be interested in: Blood transfusions with Petacchi: Hondo with new doping details
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