LEAD: German agency looks at 30 athletes in blood transfusions probe

Jan 30, 2012, 18:36 GMT

Bonn - Germany's National Anti-Doping Agency NADA is investigating 30 athletes who may have benefited from a banned blood transfusion method.

NADA said Monday it was looking at 28 cases with a view to beginning sports disciplinary proceedings.

Proceedings against speed skater Judith Hesse and cyclist Jakob Steigmiller had already gone to Germany's chief arbitration body, the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS).

Germany's ARD television has reported that the cases involve transfusions using athletes' blood which had been treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation by Erfurt sports physician Andreas Franke. The practice is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA.

NADA board chair Andrea Gotzmann said: 'Of course, we will diligently be investigating every single case for the possible use of prohibited methods, irrespective of whether it concerns an Olympic winner or a junior athlete.'

Public broadcaster ARD said Sunday it was believed the cases involved several prominent sportsmen and women. The list of Franke's patients included former Olympic speedskating champion Claudia Pechstein, former 800 metre Olympic champion Nils Schumann and cycling professional Marcel Kittel, ARD said.

Franke has said his methods were used as treatment to prevent infections.

In a statement Monday, he said the treatment was 'not classified as blood doping' by NADA when the agency was asked specifically about it in 2007.

'From a medical and judicial point of view it is wrong to say that UVB blood radiation could be considered as doping,' Franke said.

Franke said he had practised his methods for years and during this time there were no violations of the WADA code then in force. The methods had 'no performance-enhancing effect,' he added.

Prosecutors in Erfurt have been investigating Franke since February 2011 on suspicion of violating laws on the use of medicines.

Franke was contracted for five years until 2011 in Erfurt at one of Germany's high-performance Olympic training centres.

NADA requested permission to look at the prosecution's files and has decided there may be grounds for action on suspicion of anti-doping violations.

'We hope from the new documents to find further evidence allowing us to decide on which athletes we can take further proceedings,' Gotzmann said.