German anti-doping agency proceeds the investigation of Andreas Franke’s case
Jan. 30, 2011 - German National Anti-Doping Agency announced that it would examine the cases of 30 athletes suspected of having undergone a performance-enhancing blood treatment. NADA President Andrea Gotzmann said that it would follow up court documents being used in a court case currently underway against Dr. Andreas Franke, who worked at Thuringia's Olympic training facility. Gotzmann said NADA had received access to the prosecutor's documents on Monday which would help them to decide which athletes to go after.
Franke is suspected of treating athletes' blood with UV light before reinjecting it, a procedure banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The procedure is alleged to boost the oxygen content in the blood.
NADA confirmed the statement of the public broadcaster ARD that the list of the suspected athletes contains 30 names, including the former Olympic speedskating champion Claudia Pechstein and the cyclist Marcel Kittel. "Of course, we will diligently be investigating every single case for the possible use of prohibited methods, irrespective of whether it concerns an Olympic winner or a junior athlete," said Gotzmann.
Franke has been under investigation by prosecutors since February 2011. Until last year he worked at a German Olympic Sports Confederation training center in the Eastern city of Erfurt.
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