Olympic champion Pechstein's house searched in doping probe

Mar 4, 2010, 14:46 GMT

Berlin - Investigators from Germany's Federal Crime Offic (BKA) searched the house of speed skater Claudia Pechstein for evidence Thursday as part of their ongoing investigation into doping.

The search by around 10 BKA officers of the house in the Federal State of Brandenburg came about following charges brought last December by the German Speed Skating Association (DESG) and Germany's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

At the time, the DESG said it was bringing charges against unknown persons in an attempt to force an investigation into a possible violation of German law governing the manufacture and prescription of drugs.

Five-time speed skating gold medallist Pechstein received a two- year ban from the ruling skating body ISU in connection with a doping rule violation.

Pechstein was banned by the ISU for abnormally high levels of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells) in several blood tests.

She has always denied doping and never failed a drug test, with the ban a result of blood screening results for a biological passport.