The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has officially certified the Erfurt training center as fully qualified to handle all core responsibilities, including youth development and the training of elite athletes. This decision, backed by the German Chancellery, marks a significant development in the ongoing leadership dispute within the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association (DESG), as reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The certification represents a setback for the current DESG leadership, headed by president Matthias Große. Under a proposed structural reform, the association had planned to consolidate elite training at centers in Berlin and Inzell, effectively relegating the Erfurt facility to a youth-only role. The DOSB’s assessment confirms that the Erfurt site meets the standards required for the highest level of performance, challenging the association’s previous claims regarding the center’s technical suitability.
Skaters Refuse to Sign Agreement over Relocation Fears
The DESG leadership had previously questioned whether the Erfurt facility could provide adequate support for senior skaters. Hendrik Dombek, an athlete who has trained in Erfurt for a decade, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that recent developments have demonstrated that the arguments brought forward by the association were not sustainable. Because many skaters refused to relocate, they had initially declined to sign a new version of the DESG athlete agreement, fearing it would grant the association the power to unilaterally delegate them and strip the Erfurt center of its elite status.
As a result of this standoff, most Erfurt-based skaters were excluded from pre-season training camps. Facing a deadline of October 8, athletes ultimately agreed to sign the association’s contract under protest. In a statement provided to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the athletes clarified that their decision was made solely due to intense pressure exerted over several months and to prevent further professional disadvantages to their careers.
Escalating Tensions Ahead of Dresden Meeting
The conflict has intensified with an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for October 17 in Dresden, where the Erfurt faction intends to seek a vote of no confidence against the current DESG board. Dombek stated that the board has failed to fulfill its responsibilities toward the athletes and has not met the requirements for transparency, good governance, or constructive dialogue.
The situation is further complicated by allegations regarding the conduct of national coach Claudia Pechstein. According to correspondence from athlete representative Adrian Kaiser, Pechstein allegedly pressured several skaters to sign a letter of support for the current DESG board and president Matthias Große. The document suggests that the current successes in German speed skating would not have been possible without Große’s leadership. When approached by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Pechstein did not respond to inquiries regarding whether she had linked the signing of the support letter to the availability of sponsorships or participation in World Cup events.
Collapse of the Summer Moratorium
The legal and organizational friction follows the breakdown of a truce established earlier this summer. While the DESG board had agreed to a moratorium with the Thuringian Ice and Roller Sports Association (TERV), Große recently declared the agreement void, claiming it had been broken unilaterally. Peter Rüberg, vice-president of the TERV, rejected this assertion, describing the claim as a “renewed lie” in comments reported by the Sportinformationsdienst. Rüberg noted that the DESG continued to exclude Erfurt-based skaters from central measures, which he cited as a breach of the agreement by the association itself.
Legal representatives for Matthias Große stated that he intends to adhere to the moratorium until the end of 2026, though they declined to provide further comments on individual questions regarding the structural reforms or the ongoing dispute before that time.
DOSB Certification Contradicts DESG Claims About Erfurt Center
What is the significance of the DOSB’s certification of the Erfurt center?
The certification confirms that the Erfurt facility meets “Profile 1” standards, which include the capability to train top-tier elite athletes. This contradicts the DESG leadership’s argument that the site was technically unsuitable for senior-level training, thereby undermining the justification for their proposed centralization of athletes in Berlin and Inzell.
Why did the athletes sign the association’s contract despite their opposition?
The athletes signed the agreement under protest to avoid further professional damage. They cited “considerable pressure” applied over several months and noted that they had already been excluded from pre-season training camps, which threatened their preparation for upcoming competitions.
What is the next scheduled development in this dispute?
The conflict is expected to reach a critical point on October 17, when an extraordinary general meeting is set to take place in Dresden. At this meeting, members are expected to hold a vote on the potential removal of the current DESG board.
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