"Bad blood" at T-Mobile in 2006

The investigation into doping practices at the T-Mobile team took a bizarre turn Friday when it was disclosed that at least one blood transfusion had to be cancelled because the stored blood had clotted, the prosecutors revealed on Friday. To transfuse it could have been fatal for the recipient.

"Mr. Sinkewitz said that after the first stage of the Tour de France 2006, the accused Dr. Schmid did not transfuse blood, because this blood was dangerous or unclean," Freiburg head public prosecutor Wolfgang Maier told the dpa press agency. Sinkewitz testified that he was at the Uni Clinic three or four times last year "in order to give blood and then to be freshened up with a transfusion of blood that he had given up before."

The German investigators are looking at whether former T-Mobile doctors Andreas Schmid and Lothar Heinrich can be charged with bodily injury, which could bring a possible jail sentence of up to five years.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1