Peter Wrolich (Gerolsteiner) (Image credit: Ben Atkins)
Peter Wrolich says that he will continue to support his friend and former teammate Benhard Kohl as a person, but that "for me the cyclist Kohl is dead."
The Austrian Wrolich, who rode for Team Gerolsteiner for nine years and will ride for Team Milram next season, said that he had telephoned with Kohl after his televised confession about taking the performance enhancing drug EPO CERA, and congratulated him for it. He noted that Kohl has "a strong character", but wasn't strong enough. Perhaps Kohl is still a bit immature, "he ran into people who he shouldn't have trusted. And he had an enormous pressure on him to succeed," Wrolich told LaOla1.at.
"I have known him a long time and won't let him fall. I have to forgive him, even if I am one of those he harmed. I can especially forgive Bernhard Kohl, because he's a good guy and knows how to deal with his mistakes," Wrolich continued.
Wrolich added that he doubted Kohl would ever return to cycling after his positive test and subsequent confession, and that he would actually be against such a return. "As soon as he would come back, then the people would only talk about doping. That doesn't help cycling."
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