Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step sacks Levi Leipheimer after he confessed to doping
Team Omega Pharma-Quickstep terminated Levi Leipheimer’s contract after USADA handed him a six-month ban following the Lance Armstrong investigation.
"We commend the rider for his open co-operation with USADA and contribution to cleaning up the sport of cycling," the team stated in its press release.
"However, in the light of the disclosures made by Mr. Leipheimer in his public statement on 10th of October the team has decided to terminate the contract".
"This decision has the full support of the team owner, the board represented by Mr. Bessel Kok and team manager Mr. Patrick Lefevere".
The cyclist admits to doping previously in his career and also confessed blood doping in 2007.
The only reason why he only received a reduced ban is because Leipheimer cooperated in building a stronger case against Armstrong with his confession.
"I, Levi Leipheimer, accept the following sanction as a result of my doping offenses for my use of the prohibited substances EPO and testosterone and the use of prohibited blood transfusions,” he noted.
The 38-year-old marked his professional debut with Team Comptel-Colorado Cyclist in 1997 and spent a period of one-year with the team.
He accepted a two-year offer from Team Saturn through 1998-99 and joined the American outfit Team Us Postal.
Several cyclists who rode with Team US Postal have already admitted doping which strengthened the USADA case against Armstrong.
Levi joined Team Rabobank through 2002-04, Team Gerolsteiner (2005-06), Team Discovery Channel (2007), Team Astana (2008-09), Team RadioShack (2010-11) and finally accepted an offer from the Belgian side, Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step in 2012.
Along with the ban, the American has also been stripped off from all the victories since June 1999 -July 2006 and from 7 July 2007 to 29 July 2007.
The disqualifications cost him several top performances which were the total earnings of his professional career including several Tour de France finishes
Leipheimer’s best position during the Tour de France was during the 2007 edition of the race when he managed to claim the third overall position at the three-week race.
He has now been disqualified from as many as six Tour de France (2002-07) and one Giro d’ Italia (2001) participation as he is desperate to find a new home after he return to professional cycling in the coming season.
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