By Susan Westemeyer
Does Swiss Cycling have the necessary documents for an investigation into Jan Ullrich? The UCI says yes, the Swiss say no. The UCI sent the Swiss federation a dossier more than a month ago, allegedly including a detailed doping calendar. But so far no hearing has been opened.
"We need the original documents and not translations, otherwise the disciplinary committee will throw us out," Lorenz Schläfli, director of Swiss Cycling, told the Neue Züricher Zeitung. UCI attorney Philippe Verbiest responded: "The Swiss received the original documents - just like all the other federations."
Apparently, Schläfli is also worried about the amount of time and attention the Ullrich case will require. "When we're dealing with Ullrich, we will have the attention of all the world, we can hardly cope with something of that proportion," he said.
According to the dpa press agency, Schläfli is still waiting for notarised documents, without which he can't start the hearings. However, UCI president Pat McQuaid said the Spanish authorities must take care of that.
"We can't provide a notarisation of the documents that the Swiss [cycling] federation has. That stamp can only be made by the investigating judge in Spain. We have asked him to do that. When it happens, the Swiss will be informed," said McQuaid.
