German champion fights extortion — letter accused her of doping

Anne Fischer in 2008.

Anne Fischer of Germany won the W55 10K yesterday at the Eurovets championships in Hungary. She finished in 42:10.24, which is good but not remarkable. (The listed WR is 37:09.40.) But Anne carried a heavy burden during her 25 laps around the track — a blackmail attempt by an anonymous person. According to an account on the German masters website of Robert and Annette Koop, Anne was sent a letter threatening to expose her as a drug cheat. Anne was shocked and angered — and reported the letter to German track authorities. “I could not look into a mirror if I would (dope),” Anne is quoted as saying. “Also, since I’m competing in championships year-round, there is always a possibility that I will be tested. And I know the stuff would be harmful to my health.”

Anne was the bronze medalist at Lahti worlds in the 8K cross country and also took fourth in the marathon. She’s entered in the marathon at Hungary as well. Those races are tough enough without this blackmail nonsense.

I hope the authorities nail the perp.

Here’s a translation of the Koops’ report, graciously provided by Stefan Waltermann:

Anne Fischer turned into a runner 10 years ago when she was in her mid-40s. Very soon she decided to concentrate on getting the most out of her obvious talent. And she became successful on a national and international level. Naturally, her success led to suspicion and envy, something the now 55-year-old athlete could live with.

Recently, she received an anonymous letter that made her raving mad. Somebody accused her of doping. Somebody threatened her. Anne states that she never took anything close to performance-enhancing drugs.

“I could not look into a mirror if I would. Also, since I’m competing in championships year-round, there is always a possibility that I will be tested. And I know the stuff would be harmful to my health.” She is now so paranoid that she does not even drink coffee for fear of having a caffeine level that might be too high.

Her performances, she states, are based on “hard training, perfect nutrition and the luck to be blessed with a body perfectly suited for long distance running.” In addition, Anne takes medication for some illness she had 30 years ago that is know to reduce endurance performances. This is known to the German Track and Field Association (DLV). And Anne signed the so-called Vaterstettener Erklaerung.

Anne Fischer has been extremely careful will all medications. She has contacted the National Anti-Doping Agency in Bonn whenever she was in doubt, for example, when a doctor prescribed a med for iron deficiencies. Only after receiving the green light from NADA, did she agree to take iron tablets.

After receiving the threatening letter, the elite athlete of the club ATS Cuxhaven immediately contacted the German Track Association (DLV). In addition, she filed a defamation suit against person(s) unknown. The anonymous writer of the letter states that her performances would simply not be possible without performance-enhancing drugs. The writer threatened that this knowledge would be brought to the attention of the German Track Association DLV. That is not longer necessary, since Anne contacted the officials herself.

Also, the so-called enhanced performance never really happened. At the 2010 National Championships, Anne Fischer clocked 19:30 minute in the 5K. She ran the five in 19:00 flat in 2009 and her personal best is 18:49. Anne Fischer and the DLV will get together during the upcoming European Championships and discuss the issue again. But she will keep focused on her two events at the Euro Championships, the 10K and the marathon. And the diminutive athlete let the world know: “I want to medal!”

Anne got her medal, of course. She also deserves a trophy for courage and focus.