CAS bans Jan Ullrich for a period of two years
It appears as if the Contador’s doping affair was not enough to shock the cycling fans across the world as CAS has banned yet another professional cyclist for a period of two years.
German cyclist, Jan Ullrich, is banned from the sport with effect from August 22, 2011.
He retired from the sport in February 2007 and all his victories from May 2005 till his retirement will also be cancelled.
The court concluded, “Given the volume, consistency and probative value of the evidence presented by the UCI, and the failure of Jan Ullrich to raise any doubt about the veracity of reliability of such evidence”.
It continued, “This Panel came to the conclusion that Jan Ullrich engaged at least in blood doping in violation of Article 15.2 of the UCI Anti-Doping rules”.
Jan was accused of being involved in the Operacion Puerto in 2006 and was immediately suspended by T-Mobile Team.
He announced his exit form professional cycling in 2007 and that same year it was revealed that Jan’s blood samples matched the DNA tests related to the Operacion Puerto.
Spanish Police revealed that a number of cyclists were involved in a doping case related to Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and code-named it as Operacion Puerto.
The panel was convinced that Ullrich used unfair means to enhance his performance and, hence, gave the ruling against him.
The 38-year-old started his professional career in 1995 with Team Telekom and stayed with the team till 2002.
He represented Team Coast and Team Bianchi during 2003 and spent the last years of his career with T-Mobile Team, 2004-2006.
He rode the Tour de France on eight different instances and managed to climb the podium on seven occasions.
He won the overall classifications at the Tour de France 1997 and finished second during 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003.
Jan also holds an overall victory during the Vuelta a Espana 1999. He also achieved three gold, one silver and one bronze medal for himself.
Neither Ullrich, nor his spokesman has commented on the issue as of now but it is certain that a verdict from the former German cyclist will be all over the media soon.
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