 Godefroot vehemently refutes allegations of wrongdoing |
Former Telekom team manager Walter Godefroot has denied being involved in the doping of riders during the 1990s. "I did not organise any doping in our cycling team, nor did I finance it," the Belgian told reporters on Tuesday.
Godefroot also threatened to sue former Telekom massage therapist Jef D'Hont, whose recent book detailed alleged drug misuse within the team.
Several ex-Telekom riders have admitted they took performance-enhancing drugs when Godefroot was in charge.
Former team leader Bjarne Riis became the first rider to admit to having used performance enhancing drugs while winning the Tour de France.
 | Looking back, I've been very naive - I suspected that things were happening that weren't too healthy for the riders |
The Dane, who won the race in 1996, alleged that Godefroot turned a blind eye to drug use within the team.
Sprint great Erik Zabel confessed last month to using the banned blood booster EPO, as did former team-mate Rolf Aldag.
Their confessions follow those of ex-Telekom men Udo Boelts, Bert Dietz and Christian Henn.
Two former Telekom doctors have also admitted administering banned substances when working for the team in the 1990s.
Godefroot claimed he did not question his own riders at the time because he was too busy running the team's affairs. "All things said, I wasn't too close to them," he said.
Godefroot is currently an adviser to the Astana team and said he planned
to continue in that role through this year's Tour de France.
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