Kohl's and Rasmussen's former manager arrested

Federal police arrested sports manager Stefan Matschiner, 34, Monday night in Austria. Viennese prosecutors suspect him of providing doping materials to his clients.

Matschiner was the manager for, among others, Bernhard Kohl and Michael Rasmussen. Kohl is serving a two-year suspension for having used Erythropoietin (EPO) CERA during the Tour de France. Rasmussen is serving a suspension for providing false information about his whereabouts.

According to spokesman for the public prosecutor in Vienna, Matschiner dealt in forbidden substances "quite recently" and supplied "numerous athletes," but names are unknown.

Matschiner has denied any involvement in doping. After his arrest, he said, "Sport is over for me. I am done with this dishonest scene."

Meanwhile, Kohl testified this week. A ten-man Special Commission on Doping questioned him for several hours, with the emphasis on his relationship to Matschiner.

Kohl said Matschiner's arrest did not surprise him. He has been in touch with investigators for a long time now, he explained.

"Until Tuesday I can't make any detailed public statements, because of the danger of prejudicing the case," he told the APA press agency. Kohl plans to hold a press conference this week and "answer all questions". (SW)