German federation wants to clear up 2000 Worlds

By Susan Westemeyer

The German cycling federation Bund Deutscher Radfahrer (BDR) is reacting to Patrik Sinkewitz's claims of EPO (Erythropoietin) use while on the national junior team in the year 2000. "The past will be explained," said BDR president Rudolf Scharping, who said that the federation has known of Sinkewitz's statements for about two weeks.

In an interview on the BDR's website, rad-net.de, Scharping said, "We have immediately requested Mr. Weibel to give a statement. We want to have it in writing. Public statements aren't sufficient for us, even if Peter Weibel denies it all and plans legal steps against Sinkewitz." He added that "Weibel will never again serve as trainer for us; there are also the mistakes he has made that he has admitted to us."

The most important thing, Scharping said, is to hear from everyone who was involved in the 2000 World Championships, so that the matter can be cleared up. "When there were rumours at the time, then those responsible should really have looked into it in 2000 or 2001," he said. Sinkewitz claimed that Weibel sent him home "sick" before the junior's time trial because of questionable blood values caused by EPO use.

Scharping added the BDR has misgivings about the sentence in the Sinkewitz case. "He signed the code of honour but still continued to dope. Sinkewitz did massive damage to cycling and he should at least do something to help repair it."