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Ex-cyclist Danilo Hondo (archive photo): "Biggest mistake of my life"
Photo: Nicolas Bouvy DPA
Former professional cyclist Danilo Hondo sits on Tuesday afternoon in gray jeans and sneakers in the Munich court, where the doping trial against Erfurt doctor Mark Schmidt is ongoing, and tells his view of things in a powerful voice.
It's a digression into an absurd, doping-ridden cycling world.
"Business," says Hondo.
"It wasn't a sport anymore."
Hondo, 46, born in Guben in Lusatia, was one of a good two dozen athletes, primarily from cycling and winter sports, who had Schmidt put their own blood in order to pedal faster and more persistently or to rush across the cross-country ski run can.
The doping ring was discovered during the so-called "Operation Aderlass" in February of last year.
On the ninth day of the trial, Hondo confirms what the defense lawyers of the Erfurt doctor are trying to persistently demonstrate to the court: That Schmidt, who has been in custody since February 2019, was only a small cog in the gears of manipulated top-class sport.
If convicted, he faces between four and six years in prison.
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