No premature end to Gerolsteiner sponsorship

Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH has indicated that it will not end its sponsorship before its contract expires in 2008, communications director Stefan Göbel said, according to the Frankfurter Rundschau.

It was reported earlier that the mineral water bottling company was considering an early out because of cycling's doping problems, including the confession by Sport Director Christian Henn that he had used EPO during his pro career.

"This confession won't have any influence on our decision about the continuation of our sponsoring engagement." Göbel said. That decision is expected to be reached in August.