German doctor Schmidt jailed for role in blood doping scandal Friday, 15 January 2021 German doctor Mark Schmidt has been jailed for four years and eight months for running an international blood doping ring. Schmidt had been on trial in Munich alongside four co-defendants. He was found guilty of 24 counts of using doping methods and a further two counts of prohibited use of drugs, Agence France-Presse reported. Schmidt received an additional three-year ban from practicing medicine, as well as a fine of €158,000 (£140,000/$191,000). Prosecutors had requested a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence, with an additional five-year ban from practicing medicine. Two of Schmidt’s co-defendants were handed suspended sentences of two years, four months and one year, four months.