Gerolsteiner fires part-time soigneur

Gerolsteiner team manager Hans-Micheal Holczer today announced that the team has let part-time soigneur Jürgen Scholl go. The physiotherapist is supposed to have sent e-mails in 2001 seeking information on the effectiveness of doping substances, including growth hormones and insulin.

Scholl is one of several part-time physiotherapists who works for the team. "When I heard about the charges at the Bayern Rundfahrt this year, I talked to him about them. He confirmed the e-mail messages, but said he was only looking for information and so on. That was enough for me. We naturally concluded our work with him and notified our sponsor," said Holczer.

As a result of the affair, Holczer required all team members, including the team's two press spokesmen, to sign an agreement under which they promise not to inform themselves about, transport or distribute doping substances.

Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer