Stefan Matschiner Sentenced, Announces Book

Stefan Matschiner's trial has come to a close. The Austrian court has dealt the former manager of Bernard Kohl a fifteen-month prison sentence, though the time he has already served covers one month and the remaining 14 months have been suspended.

"I will never come back, because it is so disgusting," said Matschiner. "Rather, I am happy that it has happened and that I can finish it off. This chapter is closed for me." Matschiner was found guilty for violating Austrian anti-doping laws, but will only serve the remaining 14 months of his term if he does it again. He was charged with attempted blood doping and distributing illegal products. He began helping Kohl and other cyclists dope while based at a blood bank in Vienna but his cyclists eventually helped him to purchase his own equipment.

"I don't regret anything because I can't say I put anyone's health in danger," said Matschiner. The defense of the accused was based on the fact that Austria hadn't formalised any anti-doping laws until August of 2008. While Matschiner claimed that he had not participated in any doping program after that date, Kohl testified that his manager had performed a transfusion for him in September of that year, one month after the law was put into effect.

Kohl himself is serving a lifetime ban when he admitted to having been a part of sophisticated, career-long doping programs after testing positive for banned blood-booster CERA at the 2008 Tour de France. Kohl's doping history is going to be one of the subjects of a planned book by Matschiner, titled 'Borderline,' in where he plans to detail how he helped his riders dope without risking anybody's health.

He referenced the amount of red blood cells that would be present in a rider's blood. Part of his doping prodedure would be to inject his riders with red blood cells, which would cause their hematocrit score to be elevated. Any rider with a score above 50 is barred from riding.

"You're doing your body a service. It's nothing anybody could cry about," he said. "With the performances they have to bring every day in a three-week race it's really not an issue. You go in with 45 and come out with 37. Don't tell me that's healthy. But if you substitute a little blood, you go from 45 and 43."

The manager said that doping is as important to elite sports as breakfast. He explained that transfusions are not only healthier than using EPO, but are healthier than not using anything because it allows your body to minimize the harm done by racing a Grand Tour.

"It's not a lot of blood, but it gives you a lot of boost," said Matschiner. "Usually the effect comes a day later, supplying the muscle cells with oxygen. It's like you have 10 percent more inside. There are some athletes that can immediately go out and feel it."

His book will detail his work with Kohl, Michael Rasmussen and at least twenty other high-profile athletes. Rasmussen was removed from the 2007 Tour de France by his team Rabobank for missing doping tests. Rabobank fired Rasmussen and he was eventually served with a two-year ban by the Monaco Cycling Federation.

His removal from the Tour was immediately after he took his second stage win of the event and was heading into the final stages as the overall leader. In his absence, Alberto Contador was given the opportunity to take control of the race and ultimately win the Tour for the first of three times. Contador has recently been caught with banned substance Clenbuterol in his blood and has himself been provisionally suspended while the matter in investigated.