Johann Mühlegg

Throughout the 1990s, Johann Mühlegg competed in cross country skiing for Germany, achieving decent results, but without any podium performances. He participated in the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics with the German team but with lower success. His best results were seventh places in 1992 and 1998 in his special event, the 50 km. He also had an unfortunate fourth place in 1994 with the relay. After years of battle with the team coach, Mühlegg was suspended from the German team due to his aberrant behaviour, which included carrying and drinking from a bottle of holy water provided by his Portuguese cleaning lady.

He then turned to the Spanish team, and obtained a Spanish passport on 11 November 1999. Less than a month later, he won his first ever World Cup race, and eventually he took the overall World Cup that season. In 2001, he won the 50 km at the World Championships in Lahti, adding to a silver medal in the 30 km. Heavily favoured to win Spain’s first Winter Olympic medal since 1972, Mühlegg did not disappoint in Salt Lake City, but after winning both the 30 km and the pursuit, traces of darbepoetin (an EPO-like stimulant) were found in an out of competition test. When these results were published, Mühlegg had already won his third gold, in the 50 km. He was immediately disqualified from that event, but his gold medals in the two earlier competitions were allowed to stand.

It was not until December 2003 that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Mühlegg should also be disqualified and return his gold medals. Mühlegg retired from the sport before his suspension ended, instead publishing his autobiography: “Alone against all”. Mühlegg later settled in Brazil and was somewhat of a hermit but was discovered living there during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.