According to Austrian daily news "Neue Zeitung für Tirol" the court of Madrid has send a letter to Jan Ullrich in which
the court stated that Jann Ullrich is not accused of anything in the Puerto case nor did the court took any action against
Jan Ullrich. The letter was send to be used as a certification for the UCI and the Swiss cycling federation. The Austrian
newspaper writes that the Swiss Cycling federation is not responsible for the handling of the Ullrich case but it isn't clear
on which facts this information is based on.
President of the Austrian cycling federation, Rudolf Massak repeated that Ullrich would become an Austrian license if
he would move to Austria and would apply for an Austrian license. Massak told "Neue": "I can't understand the policy of the
German cycling federation (Vice president of the German cycling federation, Dieter Kühnle told German newsagency
SID on Friday that it's "unthinkable" that ullrich would become a German license, Cyclingheroes). Sylvia Schenk had to
step down in 2004 because she pushed fiercely the fight against doping and now they want to refuse a Jan Ullrich a license,
although there is no evidence," Massak is wondering about the behaviour of his German neighbours. "In a constitunional state
the presumption of innocence is essential. When Ullrich lives in Austria and applies for a license he will receive one."
Retired Austrian pro Georg Totschnig commented: "It would be nice to see him more often as kind of neighboor. German
magazine "Kicker" speculated yesterday that Totschnig will be one of Ullrichs sport directors in the 2007 season.
UCI president Pat Mcquaid admitted today that the court documents of the court from Madrid can't be used against
the riders who are allegedly involved in the Puerto case. In a pressrelease the UCI stated: " The recent developments
of the "Puerto" operation, in particular the communication of October 3rd last in which the Spanish authorities notified the
UCI of the ban to use documents of this file for any disciplinary procedure, our Federation has asked for the intervention
of the World Agency Anti-doping Agency (WADA).
The UCI indeed considers that WADA, which often claims its position of influence in the relations between the political
authorities and the sports authorities, must now utilise that influence with the Spanish government by supporting the will
of the UCI to be able to complete the disciplinary procedures which were opened according to its rules and regulations.
The UCI is determined to establish individual responsibility of all persons implied in this affair and counts on WADA’s
support to reach this as soon as possible. "
Since the UCI statement refers to the letter of the Madrid court from october 3, it's again very confusing that the Swiss
cycling federation claimed last week that they still wait for documents from the Spanish authorities.
The UCI also attacked Tour de France organizer ASO in todays pressrelease: "The UCI would like to state also that a proposal
of collaboration in terms of anti-doping fight, which was recently addressed to ASO, Tour de France organiser, was firmly
refused. The UCI deeply regrets this.
Leaving aside all the differences which persist on the UCI ProTour, the intention of the UCI involved allowing the organizers
of the biggest cycling race to participate in the development of the anti-doping strategy which will be put into place at
the beginning of the next season.
Doping is a common problem to all parties involved in cycling, and the UCI, given the mission conferred by its institutional
role, would like to broaden the discussion with all its stakeholders as it has always done it in the past.
ASO’s decision, along with their decision not to invite the President of the UCI to the presentation of the 2007
Tour de France on Thursday, constitutes an additional proof of the will of its leaders to refuse their solidarity to the cycling
family, in the most difficult circumstances.
The UCI can only take note of this attitude and express its strong disagreement with the people responsible for this decision."
Meanwhile five Spanish riders took action against some paragraphs of the ethical code. Although several media reported
that five riders are involved, Patrick Lefevere told sporza.be that four riders have filed a law suit against their teams
and that it's possible that the riders also will take action against the UCI and the AIGCP (International Association of Professional
Cycling Teams). Lefevere, president of the AIGCP also said that the Pro-Tour teams want to ask DNA probes
of riders that are allegedly implicated with "certain cases" on a voluntary basis.
