Deutsch
English
FrançaisSub menu: Home
Home / Index of Authors
Völker, Markus
Subscribe to receive the texts of "Völker, Markus" as RSS feeds
3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
German women's football team defends World Cup title
Germany is world champion in women's football. The German team won 2:0 against Brazil in the Women's World Cup final in Shanghai. Markus Völker hopes that in future women's football will be promoted more at a professional level: "It took a long time for the German Football Federation (DFB) to start promoting women's football, but now it even wants to host the 2011 World Cup... Nonetheless, women's football still isn't where it should be in Germany. The players are still a far cry from being able to earn a living from the sport. Most are amateurs; only a few exceptions like Birgit Prinz, Nia Künzer or Steffi Jones have been able to market themselves successfully. Now it's up to the football teams to create professional structures, approach sponsors and help the sport get on its feet. Up to now women's football has only come under the spotlight once every four years."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » Germany
German cycling doping scandal
The former professional cyclist Bert Dietz has admitted to long-term use of performance-enhancing drugs while at the same time accusing the medics on the Telekom team of introducing him to EPO doping. Markus Völker draws a parallel between government-backed doping in the GDR and the German cycling team's doping scandal. In the GDR "plans were hatched under the supervision of Dr. Manfred Höppner for ways to dope athletes most effectively... The doctors of the era of mass doping with anabolic steroids have their successors: in the Telekom team these were Lothar Heinrich and Andreas Schmid. The team's medical support service quite officially provided its clientele with supplies through the Freiburg University Clinic. The EPO dealing wasn't organised through a sinister laboratory but in a prestigious state-funded research institute. The doctors maintained all the appearances of respectability while doing dirty business in professional cycling: doping. Dr. Höppner couldn't have done things better himself."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » History, » Sport, » Germany
The comeback Tour ?
Markus Völker takes stock of this year's Tour de France with mixed feelings. "Floyd Landis made history with his spectacular performance in the Alps. The Tour was more turbulent and eventful than in previous years when Lance Armstrong's predominance made it so monotonous. But was the Tour cleaner this time ? Was there less doping behind the scenes ? Fewer performances that were the result of a synthetic boost ?" Völker doubts this was the case, pointing out that each team had its share of members who had already been penalised, members who were in the know, or who helped cover things up. "Swiss ex-pro Rolf Järmann once said that for his colleagues doping was about as morally reprehensible as driving your car at 130 kph down the highway. Basically this attitude has not changed; it's just that the asphalt heroes have become more cautious and keep their speed down to 129 kph nowadays."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » France
© 2005-2012