Bjarne Riis's year without lying: 'Now I feel free' May 2, 2008
Riis retired from racing three years after his Tour win, achieved with the German-sponsored Telekom team that also won the 1997 Tour, through Jan Ullrich ... " Not his Telekom co-leader, Jan Ullrich, who retired last year after being implicated in the Operation Puerto scandal? "No - no way. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
* Ullrich probe dropped after six-figure fine Apr 16, 2008
Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich defiantly maintained his innocence on Monday after German prosecutors dropped a fraud investigation in exchange for a six-figure payment to the state and charity. The deal announced on Monday ends a 21-month-old investigation into whether the now retired rider defrauded his T-Mobile team by taking performance enhancers, thus increasing his income by illegal means. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Anthony is arrested on suspicion of DUI Apr 15, 2008
German prosecutors dropped a fraud investigation against former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich in return for a fine. The deal ends a 21-month investigation into whether the retired rider defrauded his T-Mobile team by taking performance-enhancing drugs. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Authorities drop probe against Jan Ullrich in return for 'six-figure' fine Apr 15, 2008
Authorities drop probe against Jan Ullrich in return for 'six-figure' fine - International Herald Tribune. Oliver Fantitsch/AP Jan Ullrich in February 2007 file photo ... Authorities drop probe against Jan Ullrich in return for 'six-figure' fine. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Ullrich pays up Apr 15, 2008
Disgraced former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has paid a "six figure" fine to end a fraud case which has dogged him since July 2006, the public prosecutor in Bonn said on Monday ... "The Bonn prosecutor has, with the agreement of the seventh Bonn chamber of appeal, decided to lay aside procedures in the case of suspected fraud targeting Jan Ullrich," the prosecutor's office said, adding the fine was "in six figures" without elaborating further. (iAfrica.com)
Williams sisters' dad levels racism charges Mar 21, 2008
An independent German inquiry found indications but no proof that former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich used performance-enhancing drugs. NHL. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Cycling union welcomes Operation Puerto Feb 17, 2008
More than 50 cyclists have been implicated -- including 2006 Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso and 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich, who were among nine riders excluded from the 2006 Tour on the eve of the race after being linked to the scandal. So far, Italian authorities have taken the toughest stance against implicated cyclists. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Business as usual for reluctant Tour favourite Evans Feb 16, 2008
Among the riders implicated in the operation were Italian Ivan Basso and German Jan Ullrich, who were not able to start that year's Tour. But then it was shelved until a Madrid court ordered it be reopened on Thursday. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Spanish court: Reopen Operation Puerto Feb 15, 2008
Several top riders have been linked to the case, including 2006 Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso and 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich, who were among nine riders excluded from the 2006 Tour on the eve of the race after being implicated in the scandal. Basso was initially cleared of involvement, but his case was reopened after bags reportedly containing his blood were uncovered. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Tour of California ramps up drug testing Jan 22, 2008
The Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal erupted in Europe, and many top riders were implicated, including 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich. The French Tour was further sullied by the expulsion of race leader Michael Rassmusen two days before the finish. (USA Today -- Sports)
2007 Tour champion might be banned Jan 15, 2008
The Spanish cycling federation has been criticized for displaying favoritism toward its riders following the scandal, in which five people were arrested and more than 50 cyclists implicated, including 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich. ALSO ON THIS STORY. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Top riders maybe banned from Italian races Jan 15, 2008
The Spanish cycling federation has been criticized for displaying favoritism toward its riders following the scandal, in which five people were arrested and more than 50 cyclists implicated, including 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich. Copyright 2008. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Reeling into 2008, a dead sport pedaling Dec 20, 2007
Such star riders as Ivan Basso, Alexandre Vinokourov and Danilo di Luca were suspended in drug cases, and Jan Ullrich was forced to retire. Low-ranked riders like Christian Moreni of Cofidis and Patrick Sinkewitz of T-Mobile were expelled during the Tour de France for doping. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
T-Mobile riders doped - report Dec 8, 2007
That had come just two days after former winner and teammate Jan Ullrich had been kicked off the Tour. AFP. (iAfrica.com)
Deutsche Telekom ends cycling sponsorship Nov 28, 2007
"We arrived at this decision to separate our brand from further exposure from doping in sport and cycling specifically,'' Deutsche Telekom said Tuesday in a statement.advertisementFormer T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz, who was fired recently after testing positive before the Tour de France, testified that doping was widespread at the team, both before and after Jan Ullrich was its main star.Ullrich won the Tour de France in 1997. He retired after being linked to the Spanish doping scandal but... (MSNBC -- Sports)
Deutsche Telekom drops its sponsorship of professional cycling Nov 28, 2007
The restructuring came at the end of a scandal-filled year, which included the dismissal of the former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich before the 2006 race. Deutsche Telekom said Tuesday that it was ending sponsorship of both the men's and women's teams. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
T-Mobile pull the plug Nov 28, 2007
T-Mobile, formerly known as Telekom, is one of the leading teams in the sport and rose to fame in the peloton thanks notably to the achievements of Jan Ullrich, Erik Zabel and Bjarne Riis. However the team has been rocked in recent years by allegations that its cyclists used drugs, including the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin). (iAfrica.com)
Sports briefs Nov 28, 2007
Former T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz, fired recently after testing positive before the Tour de France, testified that doping was widespread at the team, both before and after Jan Ullrich was its main star. Volleyball. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
Doping: T-Mobile abandons pro cycling sponsorship Nov 28, 2007
Former T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz, who was fired recently after testing positive before the Tour de France, testified that doping was widespread on the team, both before and after Jan Ullrich was its main star. Ullrich won the Tour de France in 1997. (Xinhuanet, China)
Dick Pound believes Operation Puerto not limited to cycling Nov 15, 2007
" Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona reportedly sued Le Monde for 3 million (US$4.4 million) on Monday after the French newspaper alleged that its players were wrapped up in Puerto due to their association to Eufemiano Fuentes, one of five people arrested in connection with the raids. "We haven't had any evidence or reports on this," Lissavetzky said about Barcelona's involvement. A Madrid judge ruled that no charges could be brought against the five charged due to former Spanish doping laws. New... (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Final straw for T-Mobile Nov 6, 2007
However his admissions, which follow a testing year for the team which until recently was committed to the Tour de France hopes of Jan Ullrich, may now spell the end for the hugely successful black and magenta clad outfit. Despite their contract running for another three years, German telecommunications giants Deutsche Telekom are meeting this week to discuss the possibility of ending their sponsorship of T-Mobile. (iAfrica.com)
Rogers says truth will clear his name Nov 3, 2007
Welcome to The Sydney Morning Herald. Jacquelin MagnayNovember 3, 2007. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Court chairman: Former cyclist Sinkewitz said no systematic doping at T-Mobile team Oct 27, 2007
A shakeup took place at T-Mobile at that time because team star and 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich was fired because of alleged links to the Spanish doping scandal Operation Puerto. T-Mobile publicly took a hard stance against doping, brought in new management, started up internal testing procedures, signed new riders and fired two doctors later revealed to have administered substances such as EPO to team riders. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Giro di Lombardia to end another bad year for cycling Oct 20, 2007
Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso and several other top riders were kept out of last year's Tour de France for being linked to a Spanish probe known as Operation Puerto and race winner Floyd Landis tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. On Monday, Oscar Pereiro of Spain was awarded the winner's yellow jersey from the 2006 Tour, after a U.S. arbitration panel last month removed the title from Landis, who has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Review Armstrong's final Tour Oct 3, 2007
The 1997 Tour winner, Jan Ullrich, finished in third, 6:21 back. "What he did was sensational," Ullrich said. (USA Today -- Sports)
UCI chief says Spain is by far cycling's major doping problem Sep 25, 2007
On the eve of the 2006 Tour de France, nine riders including 1997 champion Jan Ullrich and 2005 runner-up Ivan Basso were excluded after being implicated in the scandal. The investigation implicated 58 cyclists, but a judge threw out the case. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
UCI chief: Biggest drug problem is in Spain Sep 25, 2007
" Asked what Spain could do, McQuaid said there should be more controls on riders and a major crackdown on suppliers. He also derided the slow pace of Operation Puerto, which broke in May 2006 when Spanish authorities seized about 100 bags of frozen blood in the Madrid offices of doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. On the eve of the 2006 Tour de France, nine riders -- including 1997 champion Jan Ullrich and 2005 runner-up Ivan Basso -- were excluded after being implicated in the scandal. The investigation... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Cycling: Germany loses a team sponsor and a rider Sep 7, 2007
By that he meant the suspicions surrounding Jan Ullrich, who retired hastily this spring after a decade as an icon of bicycle racing; a series of doping confessions by former teammates of Ullrich's, including Bolts and Henn, Erik Zabel, the star sprinter, now with Milram, a German-Italian team, and Rolf Aldag, now the directeur sportif of the T-Mobile team; the failed testosterone test that forced Patrik Sinewitz, a T-Mobile rider, out of the Tour; and the subsequent withdrawal of race coverage... (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
UCI bans Alejandro Valverde from road world championships, citing link to Spanish doping probe Aug 30, 2007
On the eve of the 2006 Tour de France, nine riders including 1997 champion Jan Ullrich and 2005 runner-up Ivan Basso were excluded from the event after being implicated in the scandal. The investigation implicated 58 cyclists, but a judge ruled that Spain's doping laws couldn't be applied retroactively and threw out the case. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Discovering Reality Aug 14, 2007
Jan Ullrich, the perennial runnerup to Armstrong, had enough smoke coming up around his wheels, that he was forced into retirement. And then the Tour de France tried to roll on, regardless. (Multichannel News)
Voigt maintains his lead at Tour of Germany Aug 13, 2007
Leipheimer, who finished third at the Tour de France, passed Jan Ullrich on the climb two years ago to win the race. He is 27 seconds behind Voigt. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Cycling: Break in the gloom as T-Mobile stays in saddle Aug 10, 2007
The latest Tour, which ended July 29, was marked by the absence of star riders like Landis; Ivan Basso, who has been suspended for doping; Alessandro Petacchi, who was briefly suspended; and Jan Ullrich, who has retired under investigation. In addition, the Tour saw the firing of Michael Rasmussen, the Danish leader of the race, for lying about his whereabouts to evade drug tests, the withdrawal of the Cofidis team after a rider, Cristian Moreni, 34, an Italian, failed a doping test and the... (International Herald Tribune)
German police search Sinkewitz's residence Aug 3, 2007
Like retired German rider Jan Ullrich, the 26-year-old Sinkewitz is being investigated on fraud charges that he may have deceived sponsors and race organizers if he doped while competing. "The search doesn't indicate anything new. It's routine for the ongoing investigation that's being carried out," said Michael Lehner, Sinkewitz's lawyer. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
* Tour winner involved in doping: German expert Aug 2, 2007
He has clashed with Jan Ullrich, another rider linked to Operation Puerto. A German court imposed a gag order on Franke for disclosing how much the 1997 Tour winner paid the Madrid clinic based on documents from the investigation. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Experts say papers show Contador doped Aug 1, 2007
He has clashed with Jan Ullrich, another rider linked to Operation Puerto. A German court imposed a gag order on Franke for publicly naming how much the 1997 Tour winner paid the Madrid clinic, also based on documents from the investigation. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Spanish rider Mayo tests positive Jul 31, 2007
In his prime as part of the Basque Euskaltel team, the 29-year-old Mayo was one of the few riders capable of challenging the dominance of Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich on the Tour de France mountain stages. He won the stage to Alpe d'Huez in 2003, and won the Dauphine Libere stage race, an important build-up to the Tour, in 2004. (CNN -- International)
Tour de France winner accused of doping Jul 31, 2007
However, World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound told the The Daily Mail of London that he will investigate Contador's alleged ties to Fuentes and Operation Puerto, which turned up stars Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso and led to their exile from the sport. Although some documents from Puerto appeared to connect Contador to Fuentes, the Spanish rider was not among those cyclists investigated by Spanish judicial authorities last year. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Contador caps comeback with Tour de France title Jul 31, 2007
Contador was the youngest champion since Jan Ullrich of Germany in 1997, and the first Spaniard to win since the last of Miguel Indurain's five titles in 1995. In an unplanned irony, the 91-mile route Sunday to Paris' fan-lined Champs-Elysees took riders through the town of Chatenay-Malabry, home to the French anti-doping laboratory that has exposed several riders this year. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Contador win 'a swindle' Jul 31, 2007
Among the cyclists associated with Fuentes was Jan Ullrich, the former Tour de France winner. AFP. (iAfrica.com)
Contador Wins Tour De France Jul 30, 2007
" Organizers hoped this would be the year of rebirth after 2006 winner Floyd Landis' positive doping test. In the end, they may have settled for simply keeping the race going amid unending doping scandals. Nor was it Vinokourov's year to step up as fans who painted his name on French roads had hoped. The big sporting surprise was Contador. Seen as a promising but not yet mature rider, he blended explosive acceleration in the mountains and a dose of luck as the field was whittled down. "We've... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Doping issues have cycling facing uncertain future Jul 30, 2007
Contador, 24, became the youngest to win the Tour since Jan Ullrich of Germany in 1997 ... Before the 2006 Tour, race organizers unilaterally circumvented UCI rules and blocked riders who were under suspicion in Puerto from participating, including top contenders such as 1997 winner Jan Ullrich and 2006 Tour of Italy winner Ivan Basso. (USA Today -- Sports)
Tarnished, the Tour de France confronts its future Jul 30, 2007
Finally, three riders who would have been stars in this 94th Tour - Jan Ullrich, a German who won in 1997 and five times finished second; Ivan Basso, an Italian who has finished second and third; and Alessandro Petacchi, an Italian who is the king of the sprinters - have either been forced into retirement or are under suspension in drug cases. Although the racing itself in this Tour was splendid - give or take performances by Vinokourov and Rasmussen that apparently owed more to their... (International Herald Tribune)
American Levi Leipheimer wins 19th stage of Tour de France as Contador retains yellow jersey Jul 29, 2007
Contador would be the Tour s youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997. A victory for Evans would be a big lift for sports-mad Australia, where rugby and cricket hold sway. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Contador All but Clinches Tour Victory Jul 29, 2007
He would be the Tour's youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997. "I think cycling is crazy now, we see that there are a lot of problems," Contador said. (ABC 7 News, DC)
Contador shows guts Jul 29, 2007
Jan Ullrich won the 1997 Tour when he was 24. "A lot of people have been asking, 'Who is the next Lance Armstrong?' " Discovery sporting director Johan Bruyneel, who coached Armstrong through his seven Tour de France wins, said during the Tour's final week. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Contador Protects Lead as Tainted Tour de France Cycling Race Nears Finish Jul 29, 2007
Contador, 24, is on course to be the youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997 and first Spanish champion in 12 years. Three-time champion Greg LeMond said there shouldn't be a winner after former leader Michael Rasmussen was expelled in a dispute over doping controls and two more riders, including a stage winner, tested positive. (Bloomberg -- Europe)
French cyclist hits dog, still winsTour stage Jul 28, 2007
The 24-year-old Contador would be the Tours youngest winner since Jan Ullrich in 1997. A victory for Evans would be a big lift for sports-mad Australia, where rugby and cricket hold sway. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Cycling – and Tour de France – mired in scandal, having failed to learn from past Jul 28, 2007
While Armstrong always insisted he was clean and was never sanctioned, riders he beat including 1997 champion Jan Ullrich and Italian Ivan Basso are now out of the sport in disgrace. Italian rider Cristian Moreni didn't learn from the case of American Floyd Landis, the 2006 Tour winner who isn't defending his title because of doping charges still hanging over him. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
The Tour de France in mourning Jul 28, 2007
" To others, it merely confirmed what the IHT's veteran Tour correspondent Samuel Abt had written some months ago, that bike racing now possessed all the credibility of professional wrestling. At regular intervals over the past few years it seemed that things could not get worse. Early in 2003, Marco Pantani was found dead of a cocaine overdose. Pantani had won the absurd 1998 running of the race, completely overshadowed by the Festina doping scandal, had then been slung out of a race the next... (International Herald Tribune)
How the mighty are falling Jul 27, 2007
Of the eight riders who joined him on the podium in Paris, five have been implicated in doping controversies before, during or after the period: Alex Zulle (second in 1999), Jan Ullrich (second 2000, 2001, 2003; third 2005), Raimondo Rumsas (third 2002), Alexandre Vinokourov (third 2003), and Ivan Basso (second 2005; third 2004). That the issue has become murkier is very much the result of a deliberate push by the UCI, Amaury Sports and even the teams to catch the cheats. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Spaniard takes Tour de France lead, vows 'I'm clean' Jul 27, 2007
The bickering hardly helped a sport reeling from a succession of doping scandals from the Operation Puerto investigation into blood doping that led to Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso being kicked off last years race, to 2006 winner Floyd Landis positive doping test after winning stage 17. The announcement of Patrik Sinkewitzs positive test for testosterone came July 18 the test was done June 8. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Vicious cycleSponsors aim to limit damage from Tour de France doping scandal Jul 27, 2007
" Two teams have withdrawn from the Tour after members were caught in doping scandals. As a sponsor, we want to be absolutely sure that our team is competing in good health Thomas van Rijckevorsel, Rabo Cycling Team The whole Astana team withdrew when its star, Alexandre Vinokourov, tested positive for blood doping after winning Saturday's time-trial stage of the Tour de France. That was followed by Team Cofidis withdrawing - on the demands of its chief sponsor - after team member Cristian... (BBC News -- Europe)
Rasmussen Leaves Stain on Tour DE France Jul 27, 2007
The bickering hardly helped a sport reeling from a succession of doping scandals - from the Operation Puerto investigation into blood doping that led to Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso being kicked off last year's race, to 2006 winner Floyd Landis' positive doping test after winning stage 17 ... The bickering hardly helped a sport reeling from a succession of doping scandals - from the Operation Puerto investigation into blood doping that led to Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso being kicked off last year's... (ABC 7 News, DC)
Tour in crisis as Vinokourov fails dope test Jul 26, 2007
Germany's Jan Ullrich is among nine riders withdrawn on the eve of the prologue after being implicated by a Spanish doping probe. 2007 Tour de France: Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov tests positive for blood doping and his Astana team pulls out of the race. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
What's left but to cancel the show? Jul 26, 2007
Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso also ran afoul of the doping police and paid the price for helping turn their sport into a pharmaceutical farce, one that needs a complete flushing out, no matter the cost. The Associated Press wrote that yesterday's developments "dealt a potentially fatal blow" to the Tour de France. (Globe and Mail)
A trend continues Jul 26, 2007
Globe and Mail Update and Associated Press. July 26, 2007 at 9:34 AM EDT. (Globe and Mail -- Sports)
Star cyclist fails doping test at Tour Jul 25, 2007
Jan Ullrich, the 1997 winner, retired after he was linked to a doping ring in Spain. Italian Ivan Basso, once seen as the next big thing after Lance Armstrong, is serving a doping ban. (Anchorage Daily News)
William Fotheringham Jul 25, 2007
From 2000 he was part of the T-Mobile team alongside Jan Ullrich, with whom he escaped to take silver to the German's gold in the Sydney Olympic road race ... And here is a nice clip of Jan Ullrich being asked "what is doping in your opinion?" In denial. (Guardian Unlimited)
Cyclists under fire Jul 25, 2007
JAN ULLRICH: Forced out on the eve of last year's race after being linked to "Operation Puerto" -- a Spanish investigation into a blood-doping scandal that implicated more than 50 riders. Ullrich's DNA sample was matched to one of the blood bags in the scandal. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Roundup: Ullrich loses fight over bank details Jul 25, 2007
Jan Ullrich has failed to prevent details of his Swiss bank account from being transferred to prosecutors investigating his alleged involvement in a doping scandal. The Swiss high court, in a decision released Monday, rejected the former Tour de France winner's final appeal to block the transfer. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Tour in chaos after doping scandal Jul 25, 2007
Vinokourov's former team, a Spanish-based outfit, had been abandoned by their sponsor as a result of Operacion Puerto, an investigation by the Spanish police which netted evidence of mass blood-doping among top cyclists and which led to the retirement of Jan Ullrich, a former tour winner. Nazarbayev invited five of his country's top companies to put up a total of 8m to sponsor a new team, which is why the back of Vinokourov's shorts have been carrying an advertisement for Kazakhstan Railways. (Guardian Unlimited)
Germany probes rider Jul 22, 2007
The investigation against 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich also was started through a fraud complaint filed by a German professor with no direct ties to the case. Ullrich has retired, but prosecutors linked his DNA sample to a blood bag found in the Madrid clinic suspected of providing top riders with doping services. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
German TV halts Tour coverage Jul 20, 2007
1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich retired under a cloud of suspicion. Former 1997 Tour winner and T-Mobile star Jan Ullrich retired from racing earlier this year, with a cloud hanging over his entire career by doping allegations he strenuously denies. (BBC News -- Europe)
* Doping allegations overshadow Tour Jul 20, 2007
Jan Ullrich, a former team leader who won the Tour in 1997, retired this year after he was mentioned in the Spanish anti-doping probe known as "Operation Puerto.". The team has been trying to rebuild among young riders. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
German cycling in turmoil again after doping problems Jul 20, 2007
After the 'Operation Puerto' scandal which implicated their former star Jan Ullrich last year, T-Mobile began this season declaring war on doping, introducing an internal anti-doping policy based on detecting blood doping and the use of substances which boost the blood. However recently their past caught up with them. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Sports)
