A deal for Ullrich?

Jan Ullrich has indicated that he has reached an agreement with German investigators, and has agreed to let Swiss authorities turn over to German investigators documents taken when his house was searched in September 2006. According to the Swiss newspaper, St. Galler Tagblatt, various documents and other information has remained in the office of the Berziksamt Kreuzlingen, while Ullrich's attorney's contested their turnover to the Germans. Hans-Ruedi Graf, head public prosecutor for the Canton of Thurgau, told the newspaper that the material, including electronic data, would be turned over next week.

Graf said that earlier this year, Ullrich had filed a suit in court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, to prevent the material being turned over to German investigators, but that he case was never heard. "After two or three weeks I was suddenly told by the responsible prosecutor in Germany that there would likely be an out-of-court settlement." Shortly thereafter, the newspaper reported, Ullrich's Swiss attorney confirmed to Graf that Ullrich had reached an agreement with the Bonn, Germany, prosecutors and that the material could be released.

Chief German prosecutor Friedrich Apostel wouldn't confirm that. "There is no conclusion, but things are moving now," he said, according sid. "We will close our investigation soon. Then we will have something to say." Ullrich's manager Wolfgang Strohband indicated the he was unaware of an agreement.

The German prosecutors have been investigating Ullrich for deceiving his employer. They have matched his DNA to blood found at the offices of Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes, and said that back records showed that Ullrich had wired money to Fuentes. Ullrich has consistently denied having used doping products.