March 02, 2008	Sunday	Safar 23, 1429

OBERHOFEN (Switzerland), March 1: The former coach of Austria’s cross-country ski team was banned for life on Friday for his involvement in the blood-doping scandal at the 2006 Turin Olympics.

The international ski federation, FIS, found Emil Hoch guilty of possessing banned substances and helping athletes to dope. Hoch will not be able to participate in any federation events in any capacity.

Hoch retired from the sport immediately after the Turin Olympics. He had already been expelled for life by the Austrian Ski Federation.

Allegations against six other Austrian officials, including team director Markus Gandler and medical chief Peter Baumgartl, were dismissed by the FIS due to a lack of proof.

The FIS decisions can be appealed within 21 days to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Italian police raided Austrian team lodgings during the Olympics, seizing a large amount of doping products and equipment. The Austrian Olympic Committee later imposed lifetime Olympic bans on 14 team officials linked to the scandal.

The FIS criticised Gandler for “not having shown greater diligence” in the supervision of the Austrian cross-country and biathlon teams at the Olympics. Baumgartl should also have exercised more control over the athletes, the FIS said.—AP