Sinkewitz settles a suit

Patrik Sinkewitz has one less legal problem after the Bonn, Germany, public prosecutor announced that it has closed its investigation of the cyclist in exchange for the payment of a five-figure sum of money to be paid to various charities. A court in Bonn has approved the deal.

Sinkewitz was being investigated for defrauding his sponsors and commercial partners. The case was settled because he was cooperative and he confessed, chief public prosecutor Fred Apostel told the dpa press agency. His testimony was important in bringing to light much valuable knowledge about doping in professional cycling, Apostel said.

Sinkewitz has also announced that he was not doped when he won the Rund um den Henninger Turm race this spring. "I was clean there," he said on German television Monday night. He admitted that he received a cortisone shot the beginning of April at the Freiburg University Clinic, but that was treatment for a tendon problem, and not doping.

The 27 year-old hopes to ride again, but doesn't know when that might be or with which team. "Before I know when I can ride again, it is hard to make contact with teams," he admitted.