Ullrich investigation rumbles on

The Swiss are slow to finish their investigation against Jan Ullrich

The Swiss are slow to finish their investigation against Jan Ullrich (Image credit: Sirotti)

By Susan Westemeyer

"We are still working on it and we have not yet finished everything. I hope to finish it in November," Bernhard Welten, head of the Swiss Olympic anti-doping committee said to Cyclingnews on Monday morning.

It is a difficult case with "a lot of documents," Welten said. The agency "had many other projects going on this year and their human resources are not big enough for all the work. Further it is a case based on indices and therefore a very careful and thoroughly work is required."

In August, Welten said that he hoped to finish his report and submit it to the disciplinary commission "within the next few weeks." In April he told Cyclingnews that he expected to submit his report in early summer.

The Swiss are investigating Ullrich's connection to Operación Puerto and Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes. The German rider, who lives in Switzerland, was suspended by T-Mobile Team the day before the 2006 Tour de France.

Ullrich ultimately announced his retirement in February 2007, denying ever having doped. However, blood taken into custody during Operación Puerto was linked to him by DNA tests in April 2007.