Antidoping Switzerland has brought a criminal charge after several years of investigation

The German broadcasting company ARD and the Swiss online magazine Republik showed in their reports how a Swiss medical doctor agreed to provide and administer doping substances to an athlete. The television report was produced by the investigative journalist Hajo Seppelt, Antidoping Switzerland had the opportunity to comment on the material before publication.

Antidoping Switzerland had conducted investigations about this doctor for several years and informed the public prosecutor in charge at the beginning of January with a comprehensive dossier. “It would be an unprecedented case of doping practices by a third person in Switzerland if these allegations prove to be true,” comments Matthias Kamber, director of Antidoping Switzerland. “According to our knowledge, the public prosecutor has started investigations. Antidoping Switzerland welcomes these measures. It is still too early to tell if besides the medical doctor, who is himself an ambitious athlete, other athletes have been involved. Antidoping Switzerland continues to support and fully cooperate with the public prosecutor.

Antidoping Switzerland also appreciates the investigations of the media to uncover doping in sports. The present case underlines the valuable cooperation of the partners involved and the importance of information provided by involved persons in the fight against doping.

Due to the ongoing criminal proceedings, no further information can be provided at the current point in time. However, all athletes and their support personnel will be made aware of the leniency programme. Providing information to Antidoping Switzerland which lead to the exposure of anti-doping rule violations can significantly reduce sanctions in a disciplinary procedure and anonymity may be granted.