Evaluating Ullrich's Saliva
January 31, 2007
"I've written to the state prosecutors on Jan. 22 to inform them that Herr Ullrich will come to Germany and provide a DNA sample," Jan Ullrich's attorney, Johann Schwenn, told German sport news agency SID, adding that while a date for the procedure had not yet been set it would be "soon."
Ullrich, who is a German national but lives in Switzerland, was suspended and then sacked by his T-Mobile team in July after his name was linked to an anti-doping investigation by Spain's Civil Guard.
During raids last May, Spain's Civil Guard discovered anabolic steroids, blood transfusion equipment, bags of frozen blood and documents listing around 200 professional athletes, including cyclists, who police said were receiving illegal doping treatment from Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
Ullrich, who won the Tour de France in 1997, has said he is innocent and does not know Fuentes.
On Tuesday, Ullrich's lawyers had submitted their opposition to the Swiss authorities' decision to send an earlier sample of the cyclist's saliva to German prosecutors.
Bonn prosecutors had wanted to compare the saliva sample Ullrich gave to Swiss authorities in September with blood samples found in a Spanish lab.
Schwenn said a fresh saliva sample would "prove (his) client's innocence."
Free to race, Ullrich can't find team
Nine riders, including Ullrich, were withdrawn from the Tour de France before the start in July, after police said they were named on the lists.
Proceedings against the nine riders have since been dropped, which frees them to compete again. Ullrich, however, has not found a new team since being sacked by T-Mobile.
Ullrich's decision to give German authorities a DNA sample could delay a separate Swiss Cycling Federation disciplinary procedure against him. Because he held a Swiss cycling license at when the furor broke out, as they wanted to wait until the end of the German inquiry before announcing their decision.
If found guilty, Ullrich could be suspended for life by the Swiss federation, although until such an outcome he is free to continue racing.