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Coach criticizes FIS; Jan Mazoch in artificial coma

German ski-jumping coach Peter Rohwein on Monday criticized the ruling body FIS after Saturday's horrific crash at a World Cup event.

Czech ski-jumper Jan Mazoch on Monday remained in an artificial coma after heavily bruising his skull in a horrific crash during a World Cup competition, with doctors wanting to conduct tests to see what damage had been done.

Mazoch crashed in windy conditions in the second round of jumping in Zakopane, Poland, on Saturday, hitting the hill hard with his head. He was rushed to a local hospital and later on Saturday transferred to a special clinic in Krakow.

Rohwein said on Monday that the coaches often found themselves alone.

"When the competition has started and conditions become difficult we can no longer find the jury," Rohwein said.

He said that he did not think a boycott would work.

"There is no unity amongst coaches. They all have their own interests as they have their own athletes leading. If things become too difficult you will simply have to take your team out of the competition," Rohwein said.

He did not want to blame the FIS competition director Walter Hofer for the accident.

"We are a high-risk sport. Such things happen. One can't say that the jury forced such an accident to happen," he said.

He however criticized the organizers, saying they were no longer in control of proceedings in the second half of the competition.

"That was not quite right. There was a full house and they wanted to give the fans something [to see]," he said.
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