Austrian World Cup slalom champion fails dope test

A snowHead

As Baxter had to forfeit his Olympic bronze, should Rainer Schoenfelder retain his title as World Cup Slalom champion?

A snowHead

I trust he will get the same degree of consideration as Alan Baxter. Be interesting to see the Austrian machine get behind him on this and what impact that will have.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

If hes World Champion someone should be checking his "cold remedy" to make sure it isnt full of the wrong drugs. Force him to become a kids ski instructor as punishment and we'll have that medal back off him at the same time

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Damn. I was hoping it would be Benny Raich when I read the subject line... now that would be Karma.

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Well, I beleive that this particular Pandora box needs to be open, the sooner the better, performance enhancing drugs must be stomped out of "our" sport, regardless of who is making use of those.
Or we risk that the sport will be discredited as cycling is.

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markP, I think Benny Raich will benefit if Rainer Schoenfelder is disqualified as he did with Alain Baxter.

It seems that the problem exists that "normal" medications often contain proscribed drugs in minute quantities. It's difficult to see how a modern athlete can deal with colds and flu (and blocked sinuses) without falling foul of the drugs test. I cannot comment on Rainer Schoenfelder's case as there were no details, but if it's like Alain's then maybe the drug companies can create medicines specially for international athletes. Being extremely fit doesn't prevent you getting a cold or flu.

By the way, regardless, I think Rainer Schoenfelder is great Very Happy

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PG, That explains the blue fingernails!

easiski, Its actually Kalle Palander of Finland who came second in the Slalom standings. So presumably he will collect the crystal globe if Rainer is disqualified?

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This is Rainer Schoenfelder's full statement on his website, translated from the German.....

The TRUTH ABOUT MY DRUGS PROBE

To be able to take part in the Austrian championships despite a heavy cold, ski star Rainer Schoenfelder took Influbene, a flu treatment distributed around the world. But what bad luck: On checking it transpires that an ingredient of this otherwise harmless flu remedy is unfortunately to be found on the banned substances list... Rainer Schoenfelder had already caught a bad cold a couple of days after his World Cup victory at Sestrieres. In the hectic days after winning the crystal globe he had no opportunity to take it easy, and the cold worsened instead of improving. Then he did what most people would do when unable to shake off a persistent cold. He looked for a suitable flu medicine. The local chemist had Influbene tablets, a treatment found in many households. He tried to get in touch with the team doctor, but without success.

Rainer remembered an official anti-drugs brochure he had, which he had been given at the time of the 2003 Moritz event, so he checked for himself. On the list of the medicines for more banal maladies, and permitted for top-level sportsmen, was Influbene C. Rainer Schoenfelder: "actually I did not at all want to take part in the slalom on March 27th, because I was feeling rather run-down as a result of the long-running cold. However I wanted to adhere to the OESV guidelines which states that racers with low FIS points should start in order to give to younger racers the chance to pick up good points. Thus I decided to race against my coach’s advice on March 24th – though not being fully fit, I continued to take the Influbene tablets. Nothing underhand was intended. I genuinely believed that the tablets were the Influbene C ones detailed in the list of permitted drugs."

Rainer Schoenfelder raced the slalom, finishing third, and underwent a routine drugs test administered by Dr. Karlheinz Demel, OEADC (Austrian anti-doping Committee). Schoenfelder: "I pointed out that I had taken Influbene because of my cold. Dr. Demel checked the current list of permissible medicines, where it was also to be found." It therefore came as a complete shock to Schoenfelder when OESV Secretary-General Dr. Klaus Leistner later informed him that the A-sample taken at the Austrian championships was positive according to laboratory findings! How did this occur? The Influbene product commercialized around the world contains the substance Etilefrin, a stimulant on the banned substances list. Rainer Schoenfelder pointed out his lack of good fortune:

"I had specifically checked the permitted medicines list and Influbene was included. Unfortunately I now know that there are different Influbene medicines and that the across-the-counter version contains Etilefrin. My error, no question, I do accept this! I should have checked with the team doctor, but I was simply feeling ill, and I was convinced that it was a harmless treatment. I hope everyone is clear that this was a simple mistake, nothing to do with deliberate drug-taking. After all, I was tested several times over the course of the World Cup season." Schoenfelder stressed: "Doping was, and still remains completely taboo for me! I was in fact a victim of my own conscientiousness, in trying to respect my commitments despite being genuinely unwell. I’m sure that nobody will seriously believe that I would take a performance-enhancing drug for the very last race of the winter season, one in which I was only taking part out of a desire to help out. The mistake I’ve made is embarrassing enough... ". He goes on to say: "I hope that the committee now responsible for investigating this affair will understand that I did what everyone would do when affected by a heavy cold: I simply obtained a seemingly harmless medicine from the local chemist!" Rainer Schoenfelder immediately informed his sponsors. Schoenfelder: "My main sponsor HYPO LEASING immediately came back with a positive response: We trust you, we stand by you and we are committed to our sponsorship agreement for the coming years! A genuine pleasure to have such partners, to know immediately where we all stand…..."

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markP, Think Easiski meant that Benni Raich would once again profit from similar circumstances as he did at the Winter Olympics (he would move up from third to second).

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PG, I think you mean "Priapism", a condition that often generates sniggers, but is in fact quite painful and of no sexual assistance. It is common in Sickle Cell disease , and Etilefrin seems to be the "in" treatment outside UK.

A search of the British National Formulary shows the drug not available here.
It is clearly listed as a banned drug in the IDSF Anti-Doping Code 2002 .

But, and this is a big But: a Google or AltaVista search for Influbene comes up only with 2 versions (in mostly German sites). Influbene N is just paracetamol, and Influbene C is paracetamol and Vitamin C. Influbene C is listed in the Swiss Olympic Associations List of Permitted Medicines.
So is the story about Influbene just a smoke screen? Maybe not, because I did find a report from The Highway that suggests Influbene renders drivers unsafe (though the mind boggles as to why Viagra should also make driving unsafe....)

I will remain unhappy about this story until I find a preparation of Influbene with etilephrine in it.

Jonpim, I did, and no offence intended of course. A bad joke.

The suggestion from the Schoenfelder camp is that all the standard over-the-counter preparations of Influbene, worldwide, contain etilephrine. So this is incorrect?

You know it makes sense.

Jonpim, A few (German language) sites mention this preparation....

Paracetamol 500 mg
Etilefrin hydrochlorid 5 mg
Butetamat dihydrogencitrat 20 mg
Chlorphenamin hydrogenmaleat 2 mg

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Thanks PG: typing in Butetamat dihydrogencitrat into Google took me to apotheker.at (Babel translated from German).
This is (I think) an Austrian Pharmacy site that states the version of Influbene with etilephrine in it is only available in Austria! Shocked

Curiousier and curiouser.
(Rainer Schoenfelder is translated to "Rainer of beautiful fields" by Babel! )

A snowHead

Isn't this EXACTLY what happened to Alain Baxter (and, incidentally, to a Romanian gymnast, about two-three years ago)? Result: disqualification in both cases, even if they benefitted from sympathy and it was accepted they weren't aware of the drug entering their system.

Is there any reason why the decision here should be different?

(Rusedski was different. His argument was that he had got the drug through ATP-provided supplements, not OTC at the pharmacy).

A snowHead

Cedric, Seems like it yes. But I understand Schoenfelder's point. He'd completed the season, won the World Cup, was decent enough to try to respect his commitments by helping out and racing in the national Austrian Champs, a relatively insignificant competition, why would he jeopardise his career and Crystal Globe in an almost meaningless race? Baxter however was tested positive after the biggest race of his career to date.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

As far as i know, the level of the competition is not a factor in the anti-doping legislation. In fact, there are athetles that have to take drug test in mid trainig, weeks away from any competition. Same punishment (suspension) as if caught after a competition. Really bad luck for the guy, but if they allow him to keep the title, it would affect any drug-related decision taken in skiing (and maybe not only in skiing) and maybe even re-open some cases - like Baxter appealing to have his medal back.

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No it's not a factor. However in any hearing mitigating circumstances may be presented, even if they are unlikely to influence the tribunal to any significant extent. The point I was making is that I sympathise with him a little more than with Alain Baxter who took his cold treatment before the most important race of his life, despite having the team doctor close by.

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Jonpim, I don't disagree that Baxter was extremely hard done by as well. All I'm saying is that when you are about to take part in the biggest race of your life all the more reason to take every precaution possible, and presumably the team doctors were on the spot to double-check.... after all we're talking about ski racers, not chemists, pro skiers should 'never' risk taking any product without the approval of said doctor. Whether the product contained performance-enhancing properties or not, it was on the list, his doctor would/should have prevented him from taking it.

Schoenfelder on the other hand, out of a sense of duty to his national association, claims that he took part in this national race not for any personal advantage, but to assist other young Austrians to improve their FIS points standing. He was not in a race camp with team doctors near at hand, he was feeling rough, took some medicine after checking the list, then turned up for the competition against the advice of his coach. His season was effectively over before this race, and during the World Cup campaign, the 'real' races, he'd tested negative several times.

Tough luck all round, I reckon!

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PG, when you put it like that, I see your point. I'll get the drinks .

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markP, Sorry for the confusion, but although it doesn't necessarily mean that Benni Raich will get the crystal globe, the knock on effects can only be to his benefit.

However the other point I was making is that this has now happened twice in our sport and as another poster pointed out to a gymnast (who I think lost a gold medal after her coach gave her a flu or cold remedy). Yes the athletes are responsible, but the list is enormous and the names of drugs are often confusing. It seems unfair that athletes can lose a race or a medal over a trace element of a drug which will not help them win, when it's been taken in error. How long would some of these drugs remain in the system? Jonpim might know. could they pull out of one weeks' racing and then test clear next week if taking an over the counter flu remedy? It all seems to be very complicated - I'm glad I wasn't tested this winter when taking massive doses of Beechams Flu strength to keep going! Confused

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easiski, not familiar with the drug in question, but I should imagine 1 week later, there shouldn't be a trace of the drug if it is a simple cold remedy, particularly if only a couple of doses have benn taken. However, in UK, most cold remedies that contain a decongestant element, e.g.pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, xylometazoline etc, are classed as amphetamine-like stimulants, and so would be banned. I am occasionally asked for advice from parents of young athletes on this, as often it immediately appears that the substance is not banned, only to find out the name on the banned list differ slightly, but is essentially the same. It may become easier soon, as drug names have recently been standardised, as names differ from Europe to US at the moment.

Helen Beaumont, thanks for the clarification.

You know it makes sense.

I have tried to find out half-life of Etilefrin, but can only come up woth an article on erectile dysfunction. So I can't give a definite answer on the likelihood of the drug being still present after a week .

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

I have no idea what the answer is but surely there is a difference about taking a banned substance deliberately or unwittingly. Drugs are bad news in sport and folks who deliberately take them to cheat should be banned
The trouble is sorting out the genuine mistakes from the cheats, and the policy at the moment is banned substance in your blood equals disqualification - end of story.
I do think there has to be a half way house somewhere a long the line eg Greg Rusedski. All I know is that I think that Alain Baxter had the most terrible raw deal. You lose a Bronze Olympic medal because of a compound in an inhalent - that harse decision is against any natural justice. For me Alain Baxter was the Olympic Bronze Medalist in spirit if not in reality.
He seems to cope pretty well with it, but I feel for that burden that he carries.

A snowHead

The fact still remains, that a substance is banned for a reason - usually because it can enhanse your performance. Whether it was taken deliberately or not, it still has the same effect.

I felt dreadfully sorry for Alain Baxter, but in competitive sport you have to stick to the rules. i do feel, however, that genuine mistakes should not result in a suspension.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

jonpim wrote

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While on the subject of Austria and doping scandals......

Austria reinstates ski coach despite lifetime ban

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AB Ski, you are right on both your statements. The exact idea is to get the results you'd expect from banned drugs by means of mixing a lot of legal ones.
The fans are just as guilty - would anyone watch athletics if 100 m would be run in over 10.5 seconds, or in the high jump, the men's results would average 2.05 meters?

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One law for Baxter, another for Schoenfelder? - latest update from the BBC

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Why am I not surprised at the outcome ? Call me cynical if you like.

PG, I am surprised (and perturbed). On one of our Belle Plagne Gasmeetings we had the advisor pharmacist to the Olympic Committe talking. He made it clear that the rules were strict, but emphasised that all athletes knew they, and they alone, were responsible for everything they ingested or injected. There were no exceptions. A mistake was not a defence. Brutal maybe, but simple, clear and workable.
This recent ruling undermines the whole thing.

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Small margins in this racing game. The taking of Etilefrin just to gain a few inches. Did he also ski the race in a reverse tuck position for full advantage Laughing

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Austrian World Cup slalom champion fails dope test

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