Athletes group wants independent probe into speed skating allegations

The Athletes Germany group on Wednesday called for an independent in investigation into allegations by speed skater Fridtjof Petzold against the governing skating body DESG and wants the DESG to lift his suspension.

Petzold said at the end of the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics that the DESG has a structural problem and that support at the Games was not as he had expected.

The DESG firmly dismissed the allegations, with its president, Matthias Grosse, saying he had violated federation rules. Petzold was suspended from competition and had his top team status revoked.

Athletes Germany managing director Johannes Herber said that the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the federal government, which provides sports funding, must initiate the probe.

"We demand an independent investigation that clearly identifies misconduct and responsibility. Only in this way can a framework be created that protects athletes and enables them to perform at their best," Herber said in a statement by the group.

"Such a framework must be a core concern of the federal government as the primary sponsor and the DOSB as the umbrella organisation. We expect both to initiate an independent investigation and enforce it towards the DESG."

The situation at the DESG is also a topic at Wednesday's meeting of the parliamentary sports commission. The agenda says that the government will submit a report in the meeting behind closed doors.

German skater Felix Maly said on Tuesday he would not take part at the upcoming allround world championships in the Netherlands as an act of solidarity with Petzold.