Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2002
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124
Author: Associated Press

CYCLIST BANNED FOR DRUGS

FRANKFURT, Germany - The 1997 Tour de France champion, Jan Ullrich, was 
banned from cycling for six months Tuesday after testing positive for 
amphetamines.

Ullrich was given half the maximum suspension and was fined $1,400, the 
German cycling federation said.

Although officially six months, Ullrich's ban expires March 24 to take into 
account the winter offseason.

A three-person disciplinary panel decided to impose the minimum penalty 
because it determined that Ullrich did not take the amphetamines to enhance 
his performance.

Ullrich, also a four-time runner-up in the Tour de France, tested positive 
for amphetamines in an unannounced out-of-competition test June 12.

Ullrich admitted this month that he took "two little pills" in a disco the 
night before the test but denied taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Ullrich has been sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury and 
was recovering from surgery when he was tested.

Officials from Ullrich's pro squad, Team Telekom, said they were uncertain 
about the cycling star's future. "Right now, Jan doesn't know himself 
whether he will come back as a cycling professional," Team Telekom chief 
Walter Godefroot was quoted as saying in an interview with the German 
sports news agency SID. "Jan has often said things without following them 
with deeds. Let's wait and see how serious he is."
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