T-Mobile sacks contrite Sinkewitz for failed dope test

BERLIN: T-Mobile have sacked German rider Patrik Sinkewitz after he admitted taking the male hormone testosterone before this year's Tour de France, the team's sporting director Ralf Aldag said on Tuesday.

Sinkewitz had previously denied any wrongdoing but in a statement issued by his lawyer on Tuesday said he was prepared to take the consequences for his "misdemeanours" and expressed his "deep regret".

He said that on the day before his test he had used a preparation called Testogel made by the firm Jenapharm which is meant to help people suffering from testosterone deficiency.

"It was a big mistake and showed a lack of responsibility to the team, my colleagues, the sponsor and the entire sport of cycling to use the Testogel," the statement said.

Sinkewitz said he was ready to cooperate with the German cycling federation (BDR) and hoped to help remove doping from cycling. "I am ready to take part in a new cycling after my ban," he said.

The 26-year-old was forced to retire from the Tour on July 16 following a crash with a spectator after the eighth stage.

Two days later, Germany's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) told the BDR that a test on a first sample Sinkewitz gave in training on June 8 showed high levels of the hormone.

"Even if this is a shock for us, it shows that our and NADA's testing regimes are effective and that training testing is important," Aldag said in a statement posted on the team's Web site at www.t-mobile-team.com.

Sinkewitz should now cooperate fully with the authorities, he added. "Patrik must put everything on the table that helps to shed light on this," he said.

Sinkewitz, who broke his nose and suffered a shoulder injury in the accident, could face a two-year suspension and be forced to repay T-Mobile a year's salary.

Meanwhile Italian rider Cristian Moreni, who tested positive for excess testosterone during the Tour de France, has been summoned to appear before Italy's anti-doping body on August 8.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced the hearing on its website (www.coni.it) on Tuesday. Moreni could face a maximum two-year ban.

Moreni's positive test, in a Tour marred by doping allegations, led to his Cofidis team pulling out of the race last week.

A parade of Italian cyclists have recently appeared before CONI's anti-doping wing.

Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca, who denies any wrongdoing, is waiting to hear if he faces any sanction for his links to Carlo Santuccione, a doctor accused of supplying doping products to athletes.

Santuccione was due to appear before the anti-doping body on Thursday but CONI said he had informed the committee on Tuesday that he would not be attending. No reason was given.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/02/2007 page24)