Hondo signed by PSK Whirlpool-Author

The German cyclist Danilo Hondo has been awarded a contract with the Czech UCI Professional Continental team PSK Whirlpool-Author for the 2009 season.

"We have been in discussions with Danilo Hondo for a long time, but I can only just now confirm that he is our newest rider," said Vladimír Vávra, the manager of PSK Whilrlpool-Author. "We have signed Danilo for a one-year contract. His first race on our team will be in Turkey's Presidential Cycling Tour."

The 35-year-old German sprinter, a professional for 12 years, rode for the Italian team Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli in 2008.

Hondo tested positive for Carphedon during the Tour of Murcia in March 2005. After being sentenced to a two-year ban from the sport, a Swiss court ruled that he was allowed to continue riding while he appealed the initial ruling. He rode part of the 2006 season for Team Lamonta. In 2007 he signed with Team Tinkoff, but in January his suspension was reinstated, which prohibited him from riding the 2007 season.

Hondo won the 2002 German road championship, a 1994 world championship on the track in the team pursuit, two stages of the 2001 Giro d'Italia and finished second in the 2005 Milano-Sanremo.