UCI appeals Swiss decision to drop Ullrich case
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Mar. 25, 2010
- Updated Mar. 25, 2010 at 4:01 PM UTC
The UCI has filed an appeal to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging a decision by the Swiss Olympic Committee to end its doping case against 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich.
A UCI spokesman confirmed that the governing body appealed to CAS against the Swiss Olympic Committee’s decision last month to halt the investigation into Ullrich’s past.
Ullrich has been under investigation by the Swiss committee ever since he was barred from competing in the 2006 Tour, following allegations that he had been involved in the Operación Puerto doping case in Spain.
Ullrich retired from the sport after blood seized in the Puerto case was matched to samples the rider provided to investigators.
In February, it looked like 2006 scandal was behind 36-year-old Ullrich, the former T-Mobile leader when the Swiss Olympic Committee, with whom Ullrich had a licence, said no further action would be taken against him.
But the UCI said it was not satisfied with the decision to stop the investigation and insist a decision must be made whether Ullrich is guilty or not.
While a German citizen, Ullrich held a Swiss racing license. The Swiss panel announced on February 17 that it planned “no further action” in efforts to investigate Ullrich’s use of doping products and methods in 2005 and 2006.
The Swiss Olympic committee noted that Ullrich had last held a license in 2006 and it no longer had authority over him.