Doping Charges
November 20, 2006
German Athletics Federation (DLV) spokesman Peter Schmitt told the German newsagency dpa the name of the third athlete was not being released "for procedural reasons" but that "it does not concern a top star."
Schumann, winner of the Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, former 400-meter runner Breuer and the unknown athlete have been asked to give statements to the German athletics federation (DLV).
"The DLV have taken the case to their disciplinary commission because of breach of rules relating to the use of medications by these two athletes," DLV president Clemens Prokop said.
A complaint has also been filed with state prosecutors by the DLV in Magdeburg against Spanish doctor Miguel Angel Peraita and Dutch agent Jos Hermens, implicated in the affair of German coach Thomas Springstein.
Peraita has reportedly been linked with Madrid doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who is under investigation in Spain in a high-profile doping scandal that involved former Tour de France winner Jan Ulrich and Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso.
Springstein, who is Breuer's partner and a former coach of Schumann's, was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 16 months in jail last March after being found guilty of giving performance enhancing drugs to minors.
Enforcing zero-tolerance policy
The DLV said the complaint was based on the importation and distribution of medical products for use in doping.
"The DLV doesn't just talk about zero tolerance for doping, it practices it," Prokop said. "Doping has reached such a level of organization now that it can only be fought by a combined effort of sport and state."
The case against Schumann and the now retired Breuer is reported to be based on information gathered during the trail against Springstein.
Doping scandal possibly widespread
Since then he has won a bronze medal for the 800 meters at the 2002 European championships.
Breuer, who was brought up in the former East Germany, was European 400 meter champion in 1990 and 1998 and world 4x400 meter champion in 1997.
Breuer's name was indirectly linked to a doping scandal in 1992 when two of her training partners, including 1991 100 meter and 200 meter world champion Katrin Krabbe, were handed two-year suspensions.