 Ullrich has been Tour de France runner-up five times |
Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich says he is innocent until proven guilty after being named in a doping probe. The German was suspended by the T-Mobile team last month after being implicated in a Spanish doping scandal.
He said: "As in any country subject to the rule of law, the 'until proven guilty' standard applies not only to me but to every other person."
Ullrich, who won in 1997, was suspended on the eve of this year's Tour.
T-Mobile team-mate Oscar Sevilla and sporting director Rudy Pevenage were also suspended, with Pevenage subsequently sacked.
The team had given Ullrich until last Saturday to provide a written explanation after his name appeared on a list of nine Tour riders named in the investigation.
"Contrary to other reports, my lawyers have forwarded a written declaration about the allegations made against me to the managing agency of my team, the Olaf Ludwig Cycling GmbH, in due time last Thursday," Ullrich's statement read.
"At the recommendation of my lawyers, I will currently release no further public explanations.
"My lawyers are in contact with the Spanish investigation authorities in order to determine, if and in what form allegations have been actually made against me."
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