As reported UCI president Pat McQuaid told cyclingnews.com that Jan Ullrich is not suspended. And there is more good news for the winner of the 1997 Tour de France. President of the Swiss Cycling Federation, Lorenz Schäfli, told German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, that the Swiss Cycling Federation will advice the anti-doping authorities of Swiss Olympic to not open a disciplinary case against Ullrich. Schäfli is very dissapointed about the "non-cooperation" of the Spanish authorities and says his federation is completely without  power in this matter.

Meanwhile the organizers of the Sixdays of Bremen, which will take place from January 11 to January 16, have invited Ullrich to start at the race. Ullrich turned down the invitation. Ullrichs manager, Wolfgang Strohband said: "Jan needs time to prepare for a race." The organizer of the Bremen Sixdays and former Sixdays legend, Patrick Sercu stated that Ullrich would be "welcome" in Bremen.

Strohband told German dailynewspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine that he is still negotiating with Pro-Tour teams and that there is also interest to provide Ullrich with a license. "The talks will continue in January," Strohband said. 

Ullrich always insisted he is innocent and that he never took performance-enhancing drugs. Strohband said: "The fans don't want to deal with that whole mess." Strohband told the newspaper that he knows that the biggest part of the Ullrich fans wants him to see back on his saddle again. Referring to the internetsite  www.freie-fahrt-fuer-ulle.de , where more than 5000 Ullrich fans have signed a petition to let Ullrich ride again.

Strohband claims that Ullrich  is in the process of acquiring new sponsors: "They put their hopes on Ullrich's advertising efficacy." 

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung it is not unlikely for Jan Ullrich to compete again with a Swiss license, yet he would have to re-enter the Swiss federation. President of the Swiss Cycling Federation, Lorenz Schäffli would rather let the board decide about that. This should warrant a discussion, Schäffli said on Wednesday.

Update: Today Bernhard Welten told Cyclingheroes that the remarks of Lorenz Schäffli about closing the case against Ullrich were wrong.

Welten said: "That's in no way correct and I am in charge of the case." Welten continued by saying: "Actually Schäfli is not in charge, he does not know the dossier very well." Welten seemed to be pretty upset about the remarks of Lorenz Schäfli: "I explained him [Schäfli] again that I am in charge." About the Ullrich case Welten said: "Nothing has changed in the situation. I will advice the committee in January. My advice will be one of acquittal or a lifetime ban," Welten said.

Meanwhile Cyclingheroes was told by one of its sources that Mister Schäfli confirmed all statements he made in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. It is not the first time that Swiss Cycling is sending confusing messages about the case. (Read some of the articles below)