The Austrian news agency APA reports that ten athletes and officials of Austria's nordic ski team face trial in Italy for alleged doping at the 2006 winter Olympics in Turin. State prosecutors in Turin finished their investigation into the scandal, in which Austrian cross-country and biathlon skiers allegedly used blood doping to enhance their performances.
Among the indicted is Peter Schroecksnadel, the powerful president of the Austrian skiing federation OeSV.
Former biathlon skiers Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottmann, and cross-country skiers Martin Tauber, Johannes Eder and Juergen Pinter are accused. All five athletes have been banned for life by the International Olympic Committee.
Prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello said the doping by these athletes was not an isolated case, but a well-organized strategy.