Austrran cross-country skier suspended in doping probe

Published Nov. 19, 2015 7:54 a.m. ET

foxsports

VIENNA (AP) Austrian cross-country skier Harald Wurm has been provisionally suspended amid a doping investigation.

The Austrian ski federation says the head coach of the cross-country team, Gerald Heigl, has temporarily stepped down until Wurm's case is completed. Heigl denies any involvement.

In August, police opened an investigation into alleged doping violations by Wurm and searched the premises of the two-time Olympian.

The federation says it has had access to police files and expects that Wurm has a case to answer. The 31-year-old athlete has been excluded from all team training and competitions.

Last year, Wurm's teammate Johannes Duerr was banned for life by the federation after being kicked out of the Sochi Olympics for using EPO.