A German sports medicine specialist accused of 15 anti-doping violations
Today, a court in Munich started the trial sessions of German sports medicine specialist Mark Schmidt, hearing a claim that he organized an international operation to spread blood steroids among prominent athletes for a decade.
Mark S. is appearing in court alongside four accused of complicity, in the largest trial in Germany in a doping case.
Doctor Mark was arrested in February of last year after raids on his home in the German city of Erfurt, during the Nordic World Ski Championships (North) in Seefeld, Austria.
Prosecutor Kay Graiber told the court that Mark S had violated drug and stimulant laws in nearly 150 cases.
Charges also included causing him serious injury.
According to the indictment, the doctor administered doping to athletes between 2011 and 2019, including athletes who participated in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and international competitions, as well as in the International Tour de France.
Mark did not address the court today, but his lawyers said that he intends to make his statement in the context of the trial, which the Munich court has set 26 days, ending in late December, in order to allow the testimony of many former athletes to be heard.
The alleged doping network was revealed after Austrian ski star Johannes Dürr was announced in a documentary by the German TV channel "ARD".
Investigators have linked the alleged operation to 23 athletes, most of whom are competitors in winter sports and cycling.
The Austrian judiciary had issued suspended penalties against a number of athletes, including Johannes Dor.
Doctor Mark has been in pretrial detention since his arrest.
His lawyers have criticized him for being behind bars for too long, and have filed formal complaints against his detention.
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