Austria police detain doping row coach after crash

VIENNA (Reuters) – An Austrian biathlon and cross-country
coach at the center of a Winter Olympics doping probe was
detained in Austria on Sunday night after crashing his car into
a police barrier, Austrian news agency APA said.

APA quoted police in the southern Austrian village of
Paternion as saying police approached Walter Mayer’s car after
residents reported it parked on a roadside and found him asleep
in his vehicle.

Mayer sped off and crashed into two unoccupied police cars
blocking the road after refusing to undergo an alcohol breath
test, APA quoted police as saying.

Mayer, who was slightly injured, was taken into custody for
avoiding a police control.

APA said his detention had nothing to do with the Italian
police investigation launched after Mayer visited Austrian
athletes at the Winter Olympics in nearby Italy despite a ban
after a blood doping scandal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Mayer’s visit spurred an Italian police raid on the
Austrian biathlon and cross-country athletes’ quarters late on
Saturday. Ten athletes were taken for urine tests and police
found used medical equipment including syringes, a police
source said.