Road to Torino

Sunday, February 19, 2006
8:59:00 AM EST Wow, the police have raided one of the athletes' villages here in a search for illegal doping activities and equipment. Because Italy has tough criminal penalties for doping violuations, raids on the athletes' villages had been widely feared but a few weeks ago but the Italians had promised previously that police raids would not take place.

So much for promises! Guess they changed their minds. The target of the raid was Austria's biathlon and cross-country ski teams.

photo at left: An Italian police officer stands guard outside a house of the Austrian Olympic Nordic team following a drug raid in San Sicario, Italy, at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games February 19, 2006. Italian police raided Austria's biathlon and cross-country skiing team based on suspicion of doping late on Saturday, casting a pall over a day that made Olympic history at the Winter Games. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

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This entry has 1 comments: (Add your own)

• #1 Comment from wilykat42 
  2/19/06 6:51 PM | Permalink

  I feel that the raids in a way cheapen these Olympic Games.  If the athletes are doping they will get caught by drug testing.  Ruining their chances after a 4 year wait to show that they can proudly represent their country and do their best is childish.  If the Italians are so against doping, a known Olympic problem, they shouldn't have the Olympics.  Let the IOC deal with people after the races, not before.