Overview
- Hermann Gruber requested and was granted leave from his role as DAV skimo sport director, and he is one of two individuals under investigation.
- Prosecutors in Traunstein have opened proceedings on an initial suspicion of dangerous bodily harm, aiding such harm, coercion and negligent bodily harm, with the probe expected to take weeks and the presumption of innocence applying.
- Athletes allege an April 2024 test in Ruhpolding involved up to 60 earlobe blood draws within hours and hygiene breaches such as reused gloves by partly untrained helpers.
- An ARD/Sportschau report featured complainants Felix Gramelsberger and Sophia Weßling, and prosecutors say another former national-team member also filed a complaint.
- The DAV says procedures were reviewed following athlete feedback and the new whistleblower office begins March 1, while disputing claims of retaliation after critics were downgraded from the elite squad by citing sporting reasons.