Doping scandal
October 18, 2009
According to a report to be published in the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel on Monday, Ullrich consulted the Madrid-based Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes at least 24 times between 2003 and 2006.
Der Spiegel cites hitherto undisclosed data compiled by German prosecutors who came to the conclusion that "Ullrich used the doping system of Spanish Doctor Fuentes to prepare for competitions with performance enhancing means and methods."
The new data further tarnishes the battered image of the 35-year-old. Once a celebrated star of German cycling who won the 1997 Tour de France and two Olympic medals in 2000, Ullrich was forced to retire in the wake of a widening international cycling doping scandal in 2007.
His persistent rejection of doping allegations further clash with investigators' findings that Ullrich's then advisor at Team Telekom and T-Mobile, Belgian Rudy Pevenage not only organized the flights but also visited Madrid 15 times himself ahead of training camps between December 2003 and April 2006.
Weight problems or blood transfusions?
When quizzed about this, Pevenage told investigators that Ullrich had consulted Fuentes "five to six times per year" between 2004 and 2006 over weight issues, adding that he knew nothing of any blood transfusions.
"It was to receive treatment for carrying too much weight, to drop from 84 to 76 kilogrammes in four weeks," explained Pevenage.
Investigators searching Ullrich's bank account discovered two transactions to Fuentes that were worth 80,000 euros, according to Der Spiegel.
The fresh allegations are based on data from a 2,000 page file by public prosecutors which was compiled in the years 2006 to 2008. Back then Ullrich was being investigated for doping-related fraud, but the case was dropped in March 2008 after he paid a fine of 250,000 euros ($370,000).
Der Spiegel estimates that Ullrich earned around 8.5 million euros between 2003 and 2006.
nk/AFP/SID/dpa
Editor: Andreas Illmer