 Ullrich returned to action last week |
Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has been cleared to race for the rest of the season, starting with the Tour of Aragon which starts on Wednesday. The 1997 Tour champion had been waiting on clearance from the International Cycling Union (UCI), who had refused to allow him to take part in Spain until Team Coast proved it could pay his salary.
The UCI granted Ullrich permission to ride after Team Coast provided a 500,000-euro bank guarantee.
Team Coast spokesman Marcel Wuest said he had received the news from Ullrich's manager.
"It signals the green light," said Wuest.
"Coast has deposited its bank guarantee and Ullrich can race."
At the start of the week the situation had looked bleak for the 29-year-old German who is returning after a year out from injury and a drugs ban.
The Sydney Olympic champion, who as well as winning the Tour de France also finished runner-up four times, made his return to competition last week in the Circuit de la Sarthe, finishing 20th.
He was given special dispensation to race but further competition was ruled out until the bank guarantee was provided.
Coast signed Ullrich in January but were suspended briefly two months later after financial irregularities were discovered in their salary payments to team riders.
MMIX
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