Two-year ban for Ullrich
Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has been handed a two-year ban for a blood doping violation by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Last Updated: 09/02/12 11:25am
Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has been handed a two-year ban for a blood doping violation by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The German - who retired in 2007 - was also informed that all of his results since May 1, 2005 will be annulled, meaning his third place finish in the 2005 Tour de France will be wiped from the record books.
CAS upheld the ban imposed by the International Cycling Union, but rejected their call for a life ban to be imposed on the 38-year-old German.
Ullrich has been retrospectively banned from August 2, 2011, for two years after being linked to the 'Operation Puerto' doping probe carried out by Spanish authorities.
No life ban
The UCI wanted Ullrich to be given a life ban having been handed a six-month ban for using amphetamines outside of competition in 2002, but CAS ruled it should not be classed as a doping violation and therefore not trigger a life ban.
"The CAS has partially upheld the appeal filed by the UCI (International Cycling Union) and has found Jan Ullrich guilty of a doping offence," CAS stated.
"As a consequence, Jan Ullrich is sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility starting retroactively on August 22, 2011. Furthermore, all results achieved by the athlete on or after May 1, 2005, until his retirement are annulled."
CAS added: "Given the volume, consistency and probative value of the evidence presented by the UCI, and the failure of Ullrich to raise any doubt about the veracity or reliability of such evidence, this panel is satisfied beyond its comfortable satisfaction that Ullrich engaged at least in blood doping in violation of Article 15.2 of the UCI Rules."
