Two German ski mountaineers have raised serious allegations against the German Alpine Club (DAV). They criticize hygiene shortcomings in a medical test in April 2024 and have filed a criminal complaint. The DAV acknowledges complaints and has improved its processes.
In April 2024, during a lactate value determination for performance diagnostics, ski mountaineers had blood drawn up to 60 times from their earlobe within a few hours. Athletes Felix Gramelsberger and Sophia Weßling highlight misconduct in a "Sportschau" report. They claim that minimum hygiene standards were not met. Allegedly untrained helpers did not change gloves between blood draws and used them on multiple athletes in sequence. Gramelsberger described it as "wahnsinnige Blutpanscherei" (insane blood tampering).
Gramelsberger and Weßling filed a criminal complaint against two responsible persons for dangerous bodily harm or aiding and abetting it, as well as coercion. The public prosecutor's office in Traunstein, Bavaria, confirmed receipt of the complaint to the German Press Agency. A spokesperson stated: "The complaint is so recent that it has not yet been entered, hence no file number from the prosecutor's office exists." No statement could be made on the content and legal weight at this time. It is unclear whether an investigation will be initiated.
The DAV admits that complaints from athletes followed the test. Processes were "reviewed and organizationally further developed," it said. The tests were part of sports science studies in cooperation with external partners and conducted by specialist staff. Capillary blood draws from the earlobe are standard in elite sports. Indications of conflicts in the training environment were addressed independently. "Conversations were held, procedures reviewed, and measures initiated to further develop governance and protection structures," the DAV explained. The association has drawn consequences and improved processes. It takes indications seriously, examines them carefully, and continues to develop structures.
Weßling and Gramelsberger were not part of the German squad at the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering in Italy on Thursday. For the 2025/2026 season, they are not in the Olympic cadre but only in the DAV cadre for sporting reasons. The DAV justified: "Membership in cadre structures as well as nomination for international competitions and Olympic starting places are based on published criteria, documented competition results, and formally regulated decision-making processes. The goal is sporting fairness and transparency."