Angry responses to Sinkewitz' claims

Patrik Sinkewitz' most recent statements concerning his history of doping at various teams has met with denials and talk of lawyers becoming involved. The former T-Mobile rider gave a further interview to the Süddeutsche Zeitung this weekend in which he detailed his use of EPO as an espoir on the national team and doping while at Team Quick.Step.

The 27 year-old rode for Quick.Step from 2001 to 2005, and claimed that there was "systematic doping" at the team. He said that team manager Patrick Lefevere, "is a bit naive in a certain way, but that he didn't know what was going on? He must have known what was happening. He's been involved for 30 years, let's not fool ourselves."

Lefevere was reluctant to respond to Sinkewitz' claims. "I am tired of having to react to all the gossip," he told sportwereld.be. "It is always the same sources playing around. They never supply proof. So I have nothing to say to Sinkewitz's statements or any other gossip in a newspaper or on the internet. I have turned the matter over to my lawyers. They will react at the proper time."

In the newspaper interview, Sinkewitz further said that former German national junior coach Peter Weibel knew about his use of EPO while on the team, and did not discourage him. Weibel denied the charges according to dpa, saying, "I will let my attorney decide what steps I should take next."

The 57 year-old is currently recovering from his third heart attack, which he suffered three weeks ago. He was fired by the Bund Deutsche Radfahrer (BDR, German cycling federation) in May, after numerous accusations of doping on his teams during the 80's and 90's.

Sinkewitz also had harsh words for Gerolsteiner team manager Hans-Michael Holczer. "Personally, I don't believe a word he says. You only need to look at the team's history. Rebellin is filmed using dope – and he doesn't know anything about it?" He continued, "He doesn't have to throw Rebellin out – but can anybody really believe that he didn't know anything in the last six or seven years."

Holczer responded to the claims to sport1.de. ""I'm not angry," he said, "but this was all be explained – not publicly, though." He added, "I see a campaign to involve Gerolsteiner in the theme of doping. You can be sure, I am trying to get this cleared up." He would not say, though, who he thinks is behind this campaign. "I would rather not say anything about that."