Austria’s ski federation has called for an independent body to determine blame on the doping scandal at the Turin 2006 Summer Olympic Games causing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to fine Austria’s Olympic Committee $1 million.
The Associated Press reports federation head Peter Schroecksnadel said he “wants an independent commission to decide who acted improperly”, according to spokesman Josef Schmid.
Later the federation added it will pay the $1 million fine imposed by the IOC and said in a statement “this amount should serve to fight doping and to improve medical supervision, in particular at the Olympic Games”.
IOC President Jacques Rogge said Friday that the IOC never considered suspending the Austrian committee, a move that would have excluded Austria from competing in upcoming Olympics.
He said, “this would have hurt the athletes. The IOC felt the need to impose sanctions…in the form of financial penalties”.
The scandal could impact Salzburg’s bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The IOC is selecting the host city on July 4. Salzburg is competing against, Sochi and PyeongChang.
But Rogge told the Associated Press Salzburg’s chances would not be damaged by the investigation. “No, absolutely not,” he said. “You have to distinguish between the two”.
