Ski Alpin: Misuse accusations: Now the judiciary intervenes

The Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office has now initiated an investigation into the allegations of abuse by former ski racer Nicola Werdenigg against “unknown perpetrators”.

This was said by APA’s public prosecutor Hansjörg Mayr, confirming a report by the Salzburger Nachrichten (Friday edition). Questions about a possible limitation period must first be clarified.

“We cannot say in advance whether a crime is time-barred or not,”Mayr said. In principle, for example, the criminal offence of rape would become statute-barred after ten years. However, should the offender commit further crimes in the meantime, the statute of limitations could also be extended.

The investigative proceedings that have now been initiated relate in particular to the incidents mentioned by Werdenigg (born spit) which allegedly took place in 2005, but all other allegations made publicly by the former ski racer are also to be investigated. The public prosecutor’s office has now commissioned the state criminal investigation department.

On the part of the ÖSV it had been said to take Werdenigg’s statements very seriously. The responsible sports managers Herbert Mandl and Hans Pum, responsible for sports in 2005, were questioned about the allegations made. Neither, however, was aware of any incident. The ÖSV had asked the former ski racer to provide details and names. However, she had already announced in the ZiB 2 interview that she would not disclose any names.

ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel, however, had already considered legal repercussions for slander against the Tiroler Tageszeitung (TT). Schröcksnadel said that if this is not confirmed by Werdenigg, the bandage could not be allowed to sit on itself.

The press even wants to know about a registered letter of the ÖSV to Werdenigg, asking the reviewer to name names in order to dispel the general suspicion. She said she had a deadline of 30. The meeting has been convened in November. If this expires, a letter from the ÖSV lawyer should follow, says the press with reference to an ÖSV insider.