French hand 18-month jail term to doping doctor

A photo of Bernard Sainz, taken in 1971 (AFP/Getty Images)

A French court on Friday handed down an 18-month custodial jail term to Bernard Sainz, a homeopathic practitioner, after he was found guilty of administering doping products to athletes and practising medicine without a licence.

Sainz, nicknamed Docteur Mabuse after the character created by writer Norbert Jacques, received a three-year sentence overall following a March 26 and 27 trial and must serve 18 months behind bars.

His lawyer said he would appeal.

© AFP 2008

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