■ Cycling
Doc asked riders for cash
The Spanish doctor at the center of a major doping scandal asked cyclists for bonuses of up to 50,000 euros (US$64,600) if they won the Tour of France, Spanish media reported on Wednesday. Eufemiano Fuentes also reportedly asked for 30,000 euros if they came in second and e20,000 euros (US$25,800) if they finished third, Madrid daily ABC reported, citing documents seized by the Civil Guard during last year's doping raids in Madrid. Fuentes faces preliminary charges in Spain of crimes against public health. He was arrested in May as part of a major investigation into doping in cycling known as Operation Puerto, but has not been formally indicted. The newspaper also reported that cyclists had to pay Fuentes 30,000 euros if they won an Olympic gold or the Giro d'Italia. ABC said that Fuentes charged top riders 70,000 euros per year.
■ Skiing
Skier makes nude descent
Austrian skier Rainer Schoenfelder lost a bet on Wednesday, and paid for it by skiing nude down the Lauberhorn. The 29-year-old, who hurt his neck and back in a crash last week, lost a bet with his physiotherapist, who had been treating his injuries. Schoenfelder had vowed to ski naked if his pains had lessened by Wednesday morning. Schoenfelder skied wearing only yellow boots and an orange helmet and gloves, and a photographer snapped a shot of the skier that has been circulated on the Internet. "Somehow I didn't notice the photographer," Schoenfelder said. "It was an internal bet and of course the whole thing wasn't planned for the public." Schoenfelder had been in pain since his crash in Adelboden last week. After little success treating the pain, his physio performed a "special" treatment on Tuesday and Schoenfelder said he woke up the following morning without pain for the first time since an accident in Turracher Hoehe, Austria, a day before the World Cup races in Adelboden.
RSS