Austria want races re-run

Markus Gandler, from the Austrian federation, said the negative doping tests on 10 of the biathlon and cross-country team's athletes meant that they should have their chance at Olympic glory in new races.

"They (the organisers of the raids) took Olympic chances away from us. The raids took several hours and on Saturday the athletes only went to bed at 2 a.m. and did not get any sleep," he told reporters.

"In the biathlon we had chances for a medal and that chance was taken from us."

He said reholding the races was a "suggestion" but said that if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) wanted to prove that the Games were fair, he wanted "a declaration from the IOC rehabilitating Austria".

Austria came last in the men's biathlon 4x7.5 km relay on Tuesday and also in Sunday's men's cross-country 4x10 km relay - the day after the late-night raids.

Austrian officials have become increasingly frustrated with the scandal, which has involved a coach being taken to psychiatric hospital, two athletes fleeing their quarters and the discovery of blood transfusion equipment in the raids.

They were launched after Walter Mayer, a coach who was barred for a previous doping offence, was seen with Austrian athletes.

Mayer, who is now in psychiatric hospital, has become a bone of contention in the Austrian team. Austrian Olympic Committee secretary-general Heinz Jungwirth has said he did not know Mayer had met athletes. But Gandler said he even offered him a glass of wine when seeing him at the Austrian team's headquarters.

He said "Hey Walter great to see you here. Can I offer you another glass of wine?" Gandler recounted.

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