In the boxing world, a storm is brewing surrounding former world champion Felix Sturm (44). After serving time for doping-related offenses, Sturm is once again in the spotlight, this time due to a new ARD report hinting at Cover-up of potentially prohibited infusions. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has found it necessary to bring the case before the public prosecutor's office.
As NADA Chairman Lars Mortsiefer explained to the Sportinformationsdienst, the facts presented in the ARD's report titled 'Infusion: Instagram photo puts boxer Sturm in trouble' were deemed worthy of a so-called informational notification to the Düsseldorf public prosecutor's office. Now, the public prosecutor will decide how to proceed.
The ARD sports show kicked off the investigation with a troubling report broadcast on Sunday evening. The episode highlighted a January photo shared on social media, showing Sturm receiving an infusion from a physiotherapist and alternative practitioner. This photoshoot was conducted at the practitioner's office and ARD revealed the incident to NADA after confronting them with the evidence.
Under sports law, there might be no immediate consequences for Sturm due to the Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer (BDB) not adhering to the WADA Code and ignoring explicit infusions regulations in their doping policies. However, the German anti-doping law, based on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibition list, could pose a potential threat for Sturm and his coach. Facing a fine or jail time of up to three years, they would need to be charged under the prohibited list for competitive athletes with infusions containing more than 100 milliliters of fluid in a 12-hour period.
According to sportschau.de, before the article publication, the alternative practitioner who administered the infusion to Sturm confirmed to the ARD doping editorial team the use of 250 milliliters of saline solution, purportedly enhanced with vitamin C.
Sturm recently secured a victory against Sükrü Altay at the start of December – a rematch resulting in a points victory following their initial meeting in February. In Ludwigsburg, the 44-year-old triumphantly defeated his five-year-younger opponent via technical knockout in the ninth of the ten scheduled rounds.
In this fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape of sport, doping allegations and their consequences leave fans and critics alike questioning the future of beloved athletes. Only time will reveal the details of Sturm's case, as the Düsseldorf public prosecutor's office grapples with the complexities of the doping investigation before making a decision.
