The Return of the Former Doper Cyclist Sinkewitz
Patrik Sinkewitz, after spending a year out of cycling thinks that the sport has changed a lot. The German cyclist was banned for a year after his tests for doping and taking other performance-enhancing drugs turned out positive.
Before the start of the 2007 Tour de France, Sinkewitz tested positive for testosterone that disqualified him from the competition.
After completing his ban, the 29-year-old cyclist signed a contract with ISD-Neri for one year last month. During the start of this week at the ongoing Tour of Luxembourg he rode his first race after his return with the Italian team.
He said that he was really surprised to see so many changes in the cycling world but he also added that he hopes to ride for a couple of more years before he announces his retirement. He hoped that he would achieve something big before he retired.
Sinkewitz’s career graph was going very good, when the T-Mobile Team fired him for the positive doping test around three years ago. He was banned for one year as his suspension was reduced to half the usual duration because of cooperation with the German investigators. During the course of probing and investigation he shared all the relevant details required to the authorities about doping in cycling. In order to reduce his punishment, he also named former teammates and doctors who had been involved with him.
Now, he admits his mistake and also that during all this time he has learned much more than what others might have learned in his place. He also added that he appreciates the fact that the International cycling union is trying their best to keep the sport clean of drugs in a way that no other sport is doing. The UCI has always been very strict and in particular about how to deal with cyclists charged with positive doping tests.
Sinkewitz was happy at the end of the ban as he said that he had come across many hard times during this period but was able to keep his self confidence and stand firm and resolute. He remembers his days off the track and said that he kept telling himself that his life was not over and that he needs to lead a normal life.
But Sinkewitz says that with the passage of time much has improved and is hopeful that his remaining time would be better. He wants to put all the issues at the back of his mind because he wants to concentrate on his cycling career and wants to get the best out of the few years he is in the sport.
However, he seems happy with his new team who has shown a lot of trust and confidence in him since he has returned. Luca Scinto, the team's sports director while talking to the media about Sinkewitz, said that he has a strong engine inside his body, and a sharp and clever mind. Adding that with such a combination he can achieve great results.
Another co-cycler, Scinto said that all the great riders that have ever been caught for doping had come back to the sport, such as Ivan Basso and Alexandre Vinokourov. He added that Sinkewitz is one of them and he surely deserves a second chance.
Sinkewitz says that he finds his new team full of warmth with a friendly atmosphere that this small Italian team has maintained. He said that the organization lifts his morale higher every day which is all that he wanted now.
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