Overview
- DESG has imposed a provisional start ban and removed Fridtjof Petzold from the national squad after his public criticism, pending a disciplinary board decision.
- Teammate Felix Maly has declined a potential nomination for this weekend’s World Allround Championships in Heerenveen in solidarity with Petzold.
- Athleten Deutschland demands the ban be lifted, the disciplinary case ended, and an independent investigation launched due to conflict-of-interest concerns in DESG’s disciplinary body.
- The dispute is on the Bundestag Sports Committee agenda today, with the federal government slated to present a report on the situation.
- DESG leaders deny allegations of structural and financial issues, having rebuffed ARD reporting and barred its journalists from a press event, while Petzold risks missing the March 7–8 championships.