"German athletes" are demanding heavy punishment for Dr. Mark Schmidth

The Alliance of German Athletes (Athletes Deutschland) is hoping for a heavy penalty in the doping case involving Dr. Mark Schmidth (S) and four other associates.

"He called on athletes repeatedly to take tough measures against those behind the doping and those who benefit from it," said Johannes Herber, director general of the alliance, to the German news agency (dpa), two days before the verdict was issued by a court in the German city of Munich.

"A strict punishment against the accused in this trial will be a very important message," Herber added.

Convictions are expected against the five accused the day after tomorrow, as Mark S will be threatened with imprisonment as agitator and organizer.

The Public Prosecution demanded a prison sentence of five and a half years, while the defense requested a prison sentence of only three years, which would lead to the doctor's release soon.

The doctor had admitted in a written statement read by his lawyers that he was involved in illegal practices after being accused of violating drug and stimulant laws in nearly 150 cases, and the charges also included one of causing serious injury.

According to the indictment, the doctor provided doping to athletes between 2011 and 2019, including competitors at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, several world championships and the International Tour de France (Tour de France).

It is reported that Mark S. was arrested in February 2019 after raids on his home in Erfurt, Germany, during the World Ski Championships in the Austrian city of Seefeld.

Alphonse Hürmann, president of the German Olympic Sports Federation, said, "For months we have been eagerly looking to Munich, where the trial of Dr. Mark S. offers an insight into the depths of sport."

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