Dekker also 'patient' by Matschiner

So are these substantiated allegations? Guilt by association? Rumors? Is there any physical evidence? Who says Dekker and Boogerd used blood doping? Is this doctor, Matschiner, involved with the Dutch riders or not? Can you say perhaps a bit more?

 Matschiner isn’t a doctor he is the former manager to Kohl and Rasmussen, triathlete Lisa Hutthaler and unnamed others.

The possible link here to the old story is the fact that the alleged centre of that dopingring was the Humanplasma clinic and Kohl has admitted to recieving bloodtransfusions there. The investigation of Humanplasma was formally closed just prior to the arrests of Matschiner and the former biathlon-coach Meyer that was the starting point of this latest mess. I think it’s safe to say more will come in the coming weeks since Matschiner has given up the location of the centrifuge that Kohl was part-owner too and probably plenty of names as well.

At least add a question mark to the title. Goddamn stupid rumours.

the translations

Cyclist Bernard Kohl, who for years was mangaged by Matschiner, stated at a press conference that since he’s been doping under Matschiner since 2005. “I got EPO, growth hormones, insulin and testosterone from him,” says the winner of the polka dot jersey in the last Tour de France. “And he helped me do blood transfusions.” The Austrian is currently under a 2 year suspension. He paid his manager has 50,000 euros for doping.

VIENNA – The Vienna court is holding sportmanager Stefan Matschiner in custody for four weeks. Matschiner, former manager of the riders Bernhard Kohl and Michael Rasmussen, is suspected to have helped athletes procure banned stimulants.

According to the Austrian press agency APA, they are holding him because they fear that otherwise suspect evidence would disappear and he would continue illegal activities.

The 31-year-old suspect in the past also worked with the Dutch athlete Simon Vroemen. Matschiner was discredited after allegations of triathletes Lisa Hütthaler, followed by a statement from cyclist Kohl when he was caught using an EPO variant. Matschiner will be incarcerated at least until May 18.

And the focus story is reported to say that Matschiner previously admitted to Kohl, and is now naming other names (“Volgens Focus noemde hij nu dus ook andere namen.”) They mention that Dekker was dropped from Rabo after doping rumors. There is no direct quote from Matschiner about Dekker and Boogerd. But unless he denies it, this goes beyond the random level of rumor-buzz.

Besides, Boogerd has admitted doping in the past, right? This isn’t news. Dekker was suspicious enough to be dropped by his team (and he started to ride crappy around the time it was made public that CERA was detectable). Anyone who’s massively surprised that this could be true isn’t paying much attention, IMHO.

Or “real doping” (read EPO? or blood doping?) as opposed to something that he felt was not doping (this makes me think of the “testosterone helps me heal faster” or “HGH makes me feel younger” school of rationalization). I feel he’s come as close to admitting some modest level of doping as he thinks he can manage, without facing legal repercussions. That feeling is indeed based on intangibles like tone and facial expressions.

Denies involvement with Matschiner

He has had his portion of BS and crashes in the last year. It is time to draw attention while on the bike again.