Austrian Federation to take legal action against Kohl

The Austrian Cycling Federation (ÖRV) will file a complaint against Bernhard Kohl, joining a public prosecutor's inquiry into the Austrian rider for fraud. Kohl was suspended for two years for his use of CERA, a new form of EPO, during the Tour de France.

ÖRV President Otto Flum said there were two reasons for the action. One was "to very clearly show that we actively participate in every explanation of a doping case. But also because of the damage that has been done to ÖRV."

By filing a formal complaint, Flum said that the Federation could work together with prosecutors. "With these activities we hope to get to the dealers and suppliers."

Meanwhile, Stefan Matschiner, who was previously identified as Kohl's manager, said that he and Kohl had agreed to end their relationship. Matschiner said that he had served as the rider's press spokesman since the Tour de France 2008 In a statement issued Wednesday evening, he said that "the parameters have drastically changed in the last few weeks" and that there is no longer a "financial or media necessity," so that the two have agreed to stop their work together.