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23. 07. 09. - 12:00

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23. 07. 09. - 12:00

Paszek investigated amid doping claims

By Thomas Hochwarter

The Austrian Anti-Doping Agency is investigating after tennis ace Tamira Paszek admitted she had injections of her own blood as therapy for a back injury.

The player said yesterday (Weds) she had had the injections to battle agonising back pains she had suffered for months.

But experts have said the 18-year-old, currently number 59 in the world, has broken anti-doping laws and the Anti-Doping Agency has said it wants to investigate the 18-year-old’s therapy methods.

Paszek, who has pledged to cooperate with investigators, said: "I suffered a slipped disc. I was unable to get up in the morning. It is slowly getting better now."

Speaking about the doctor who treats her, the Vorarlberg-based tennis star said: "I trust her. The pains are getting less and less with every injection. That is a good sign."

Anti-doping expert Hans Holdhaus said: "As soon as you give blood and re-inject it, it is doping."

But Holdhaus added it was possible in some circumstances to get special permission to undergo such therapy.

Paszek is the latest in a line of Austrian athletes involved in doping scandals.

Former cyclist Bernhard Kohl announced his retirement earlier this year after being found guilty of taking the blood-booster CERA during last year’s Tour de France, in which he finished in third. Kohl initially denied allegations against him but later admitted to taking the banned substance.

And triathlete Lisa Hütthaler also ended her career after admitting to doping. She has since promised to tell investigators everything she knows about doping in Austria.

Austrian Times

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