Ullrich still waiting

By Susan Westemeyer

Germany's Jan Ullrich is still waiting for a resolution from the Swiss Olympic investigation of doping charges stemming from Operación Puerto. Last spring, it was expected that the disciplinary committee would have the case closed by now, but that has not happened.

"I have not finished the report and therefore the case is not yet filed to the disciplinary commission.," Bernhard Welten, head of the Swiss Olympic anti-doping committee, said to Cyclingnews. "Hopefully this may happen within the next few weeks." He had previously reported that he hoped to submit the case by "early summer."

Roland Richner, the technical director of Swiss Cycling, confirmed to Cyclingnews that the investigation is still in Welten's hands.

Welten earlier noted that if Ullrich was convicted, it would be considered a second offence and would therefore entail a lifetime ban. Ullrich, who lives in Switzerland, was suspended for six months in 2002 after testing positive for amphetamines while recovering from knee surgery. Back then, amphetamines were forbidden in out-of-competition times, but the rule was changed in 2004.

Ullrich, team-mate Oscar Sevilla and advisor Rudy Pevenage were all suspended by T-Mobile Team the day before the 2006 Tour de France started for their alleged involvement in Operación Puerto. The team subsequently fired all three.

Ullrich never raced again and ultimately retired in February 2007. The 34 year-old has consistently denied ever having doped or having any connection to Puerto's Eufemiano Fuentes, but in April 2007, blood taken into custody during Operación Puerto was linked to him by DNA tests.