Doping Admission
July 31, 2007
German cyclist Patrik Sinkewitz admitted on Tuesday that he "secretly" used a testosterone gel before failing a doping test in June. In a statement posted on his Web site, Sinkewitz spoke of "incorrect conduct."
Sinkewitz said on his site that he had obtained Testogel, which is applied to the skin to balance out a testosterone deficit. He said the substance was supposed to aid better recuperation during hard training exercises.
"Without thinking, or simply in great stupidity, I secretly applied Testogel to my upper arm at the training camp in France on the evening before the doping test," Sinkewitz said.
T-Mobile dismisses Sinkewitz from the team
Earlier Tuesday, the German Cycling Federation BDR said Sinkewitz had declined to have his B sample analyzed. That prompted T-Mobile to announce his dismissal.
"He broke his commitment to us, so his contract has been terminated," said the team's head of sports management Rolf Aldag. "Of course, the doping positive came as a shock to us, but it shows the effectiveness and importance of our internal testing and NADA's testing." NADA is the German Anti-Doping Agency.
T-Mobile had initially suspended Sinkewitz after he tested positive during training on June 8, just a month before the Tour de France began. He still participated, though, until he crashed into a spectator during the eighth stage in the Alps on July 15.
Evidence is clear-cut
Christian Frommert, vice-president of sponsoring communications at Deutsche Telekom, said he welcomed the dismissal.
"The fact that Sinkewitz passed on the opening of the B-sample means that he is accepting the results of the A-sample," Frommert said. "We thus have a clear-cut doping case." It was important for Sinkewitz to stand up to his actions.
"It is good that the public and fans are not irritated and disappointed with ridiculous defense strategies," Frommert said.
According to Aldag, the 26-year-old Sinkewitz now faced a two-year ban from competition. He would also be required to repay a year's salary for a doping violation. His annual income is estimated at 500,000 euros ($684,000).
Sinkewitz's positive doping test had resulted in German state broadcasters ARD and ZDF stopping their live Tour de France broadcasts.