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Ex-pro cyclist Stefan Denifl jailed for doping

Former IAM Pro Cycling and Aqua Blue Sport rider imprisoned for eight months

Former professional cyclist Stefan Denifl has been jailed for eight months for doping, with a further 16 months’ imprisonment suspended.

The former IAM Pro Cycling and Aqua Blue Sport rider was sentenced today by a court in Austria for “aggravated sports fraud” following the Operation Aderlass investigation into doping in sport.

The 33 year old has also been fined €349,000 by the Innsbruck Regional Court, according to press reports in Austria.

In late 2018, after Aqua Blue Sport collapsed, it was announced that Denifl had signed the CCC team for the following season.

But in December of that year, the team said that the Austrian rider would not be joining, for unspecified personal reasons.

In March 2019, shortly after news of the Operation Aderlass blood doping scandal broke,  he admitted doping, and he was handed a four-year ban in June of that year.

He was subsequently stripped of results including the overall victory of the 2017 Tour of Austria, and his Stage 17 win at the Vuelta a Espana the same year.

In Austria, as in several other countries, doping by athletes is criminalised on grounds of fraud.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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Dingaling | 3 years ago
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In the light of what motorists get for injuring and even killing cyclists (not just in the UK) 8 months and a €349000 fine for doping looks pretty heavy-handed. If it were to look even-handed guilty motorists should be getting topped and all their assets confiscated.

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don simon fbpe | 3 years ago
2 likes

The bit where he says that he doesn't consider that he did anything illegal is worrying.

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Gkam84 | 3 years ago
2 likes

IAM have said they won't seek any compensation from the fine, but I hope Aqua Blue riders try and tap into it to get some money back on their wages that they were scammed out of.

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MattieKempy replied to Gkam84 | 3 years ago
3 likes

Why? He cheated, he got caught, he's doing time for it, which is good to see. Aqua Blue riders were screwed by their owner, who said all the right things and then did precisely the opposite, not by Denifl. I'm sure he'll have lost a lot of friends and respect, but I don't see why he would need to pay any money to previous teammates.

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Gkam84 replied to MattieKempy | 3 years ago
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He was fined €349,000, but I think I'm correct in saying, under Swiss law, can be claimed upon by previous employers or those done out of money by him. So Aqua Blue and IAM, plus any personal sponsors could have a claim to a portion of that fine. IAM have already indicated they will not be seeking recompense, so Aqua Blue could claim it and pay their riders some of their lost earnings.

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MattieKempy replied to Gkam84 | 3 years ago
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Thanks for the clarification. I understand why AquaBlue would be entitled to compensation as he did harm to their reputation, but I also suspect that the ex-owner would just pocket the money himself!

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