ARD research show that Germany’s doping hunter has not published the names of convicted dopers for years due to data protection risks. That was not even noticed in specialist circles.
The most amazing is how long nobody noticed the confidentiality. Since March 2020, NADA has stopped its own name for sanction decisions. It only creates statistics once a year, usually at some point in June, in which the numbers are also listed for positive doping samples in Germany. The Nada no longer gives names of fraudsters.
The ARD doping editorial team only noticed the procedure when, after a reference to a doping case of the German canoeing Martin Hiller, a former world and European champion, she asked about the process at NADA. The NADA had conducted the process itself, not an international institution. In mid -February 2025, she had legally banned Hiller, which was positively tested for three anabolic active ingredients in two doping samples. The NADA had not made the process public, although it is a highly decorated athlete from one of the most successful German Olympic sports.
Kanute Martin Hiller, former world and European champion
76 percent of the fraudsters not known by name
A comparison of the published figures with the published names of dopers then showed a blatant displeasure: 76 percent of the fraudsters, the NADA admitted after the ARD publication, have not become public in the past five years. They also come from sporting sports such as athletics or swimming, from at least 18 Olympic sports. Since the data has not yet been published from 2024, it could also be more.
“From the public’s point of view, there is a lack of transparency and openness in terms of anti-doping control“, complains Cologne’s sports lawyer Jan F. Orth: “You are kept unsuspecting.“The practice had not been noticed for so long because despite the restrictive NADA posture, individual doping cases had repeatedly become public, published in these few cases either by third parties or those affected themselves.
Nada leads legal risks
The NADA then only granted the facts to the facts on specific inquiries about the known cases. However, the doping fighters did not go public on their own initiative. The world anti-doping code expressly prescribes the publication of legally concluded cases, naming the name of the doper and other details. The NADA, on the other hand, relies on right-wing risks.
Dr. Lars Mortsiefer acts as CEO at NADA.
It stands, says her CEO Lars Mortsiefer, “in anti-doping work in an important area for transparency, comprehensibility and valid decisions. However, this is currently biting with the applicable law in data protection.“
The eternal examination of the data protection officers
A test procedure of the state representative for data protection and freedom of information in North Rhine-Westphalia responsible for NADA is still running over five years ago. It was initiated by an amateur cyclist who defends himself against the publication of sanctions. According to the preliminary assessment of the data protection officers, the publication of personal information is not permitted because there is no legal basis for this.
The Cologne Sportrechtler Orth points out: “The legal consequences that the NADA threatens to claim damages by the athletes or fines by the data protection authorities according to the General Data Protection Regulation are significant.“Alone: Although the underlying General Data Protection Regulation applies to all of Europe, hardly any other national anti-doping organization is just as restrictive with the publication of fraud names as the German.
“The athletes who receive their reputation from a media reporting and a publicly celebrated sporting success, when they have doped, have showered this success“, Says Sportrechtler Orth,”And then, I think, from a moral, ethical, but also legal point of view, you have no justification to carry this wrong prize in front of you. And that’s why we need a corresponding legal option.“
Horror of the athletes
Nada boss Mortsiefer believes everyone involved from sport, politics or media informs about the procedure – especially since the NADA indicates the problem in its publications on the margin. In fact, however, everyone is surprised by the procedure because they have not yet noticed it.
“I am really very surprised that NADA’s publication practice has changed in recent years“, Said the CDU/CSU sports policy spokesman, Stephan Mayer, the ARD doping editorial team:”If the procedure is concluded, if the punishment is also legally defined, in my view it is in the consideration that the publication should take place because it is state -funded athletes, that it is tax money that is invested in sport and that for reasons of competitive, the competitors are also about this.“
Even athlete representative warn a return to the previous publication practice. “DOping cases are doping cases, no matter how successful you are or how successful you were or whether you are a talent“, Says Patrick Dogue, athletes’ spokesman for the modern pent -up artists. He adds:”If you are positive, you are positive and in the end the sporting career has nothing to do to what extent this should be disclosed. The name should be mentioned, the substances should be called.“
Bob-Anschieber Georg Fleischhauer, world champion of 2023, told the ARD doping editorial team: “I think the deterrent itself is important because other athletes must also be aware that if you do something forbidden, that you will be punished. And if that is no longer the case, everyone thinks: Okay, it is not so bad – nothing bad happens in doubt, I may be a few months away and then it goes on. And I think that is not allowed.“
One case is now known – how many more will follow, but not. An avalanche threatens for German sport.