Schumacher to stay with Gerolsteiner, manager says

Stefan Schumacher doesn't have to worry about losing his job, according to his manager. Hein Betz told the German press agency dpa that there is no question of a separation from Team Gerolsteiner and that it "was never a theme" in discussions with team manager Hans-Michael Holczer.

Schumacher has a contract with Holczer through 2009, although at the moment the team has no sponsor for the 2009 season.

The 26 year-old has made a number of negative headlines throughout his career with the most recent being the disclosure earlier this month that traces of amphetamine were discovered in his blood in a police control. It is not considered a doping case, because amphetamine use is banned only during competition.

However, at the recent team presentation, Holczer showed himself less than thrilled with his young star. Although repeating that he had been told by his lawyers to consider it Schumacher's private matter and not to comment on it, he indicated that there would be some sort of team sanction imposed.

"There is no need to discuss Schumacher's contract. There is no doping case here which would justify breaking his contract," Betz said. The discussions with Holczer concerned rather than that a campaign to improve Schumacher's image.