Estonian minister of culture: Austrian authorities must establish truth in doping incident

  • 2019-02-28
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - Austrian authorities must do all in their power to establish the truth, Estonian Minister of Culture Indrek Saar said with reference to the doping scandal involving Estonian athletes, which is currently unfolding at the 41st FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld, Austria.

"The news is fresh. Austrian authorities must do everything they can to establish the truth -- what has happened and who is involved in the doping incident described. The reputation of Estonian sports is again at stake both on a national as well as international level. Sport has to be clean, there is no room for negotiation here, not are there any gray areas," Saar said.

Estonian cross-country skiers Karel Tammjarv and Andreas Veerpalu were apprehended at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Austria for suspected doping. In addition, those currently being held in custody for the same suspicion include two athletes from Austria and one from Kazakhstan. A doping lab has been discovered in which blood transfusions were being carried out; one athlete was picked up right in the middle of the procedure, Austria's Federal Police Office announced.