Sinkewitz forfeits B-sample, gets fired

German rider Patrik Sinkewitz of T-Mobile has declined to get his B-sample analysed. His A-sample was tested positive for testosterone.

The B-sample was supposed to be opened today, but Patrik Sinkewitz, after initially requesting the B-sample, has now declined to ask its opening. This effectively makes him testing positive in the June 8th incident.

AFP reports that Michael Lehner, the lawyer for Sinkewitz, has sent in a fax stating that his client waived the rights to get a counter analysis done. The German rider will now likely be suspended for two years, although there is some speculation that he will become a key witness, like Jörg Jaksche. Depending on how much he tells this could mean a reduced sentence under UCI rules.

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Lehner has publicly stated that he always tells his clients to come out in the open if they have to say something. It could be interesting to see if Sinkewitz will detail more about any other doping activity going on at T-Mobile, or if he was indeed an isolated case.

The contract with T-Mobile had been ended immediately, as Christian Frommert, the director of sponsoring communication at Deutsche Telekom AG, already indicated. "The fact that [Patrik] Sinkewitz declined his B-sample to be analysed means he doesn't contest the finding of the A-sample result and we have a case of doping."

Rolf Aldag, the general manager of the team, said Tuesday morning that "we made this decision [to cancel the contract] following the announcement [of not requesting a B-sample analysis]." Aldag, who admitted to doping in his career himself, continued that he hoped there would be "collaboration between Patrik, the German federation and T-Mobile. Patrik needs to sit with us on the table and explain himself so that nothing stays uncovered."

The 26 year-old was the hope of presenting the new German generation of younger riders in the fight against doping. He has signed the UCI agreement before the Tour and faces to pay one year of salary towards the anti-doping fight.