German federation reacts swiftly to Schumacher positive

The Bund Deutscher Radfahrer (BDR) will today open proceedings against Stefan Schumacher following his positive doping test announced yesterday. The national federation will seek a suspension lasting at least a two years, while a fine and compensation for damages will also be seriously considered.

The reaction from Germany's national federation has been swift and strong, indicating that Schumacher's representative career may be over. Add Hans-Michael Holczer's comments to the mix, and the 27-year-old may be forced to call an early end to his time as a professional rider.

"This is a shock," said BDR President Rudolf Scharping. "But it is also good news. Hardly anyone now can slip through the net of the doping investigators," he added, emphasising that, "Stefan Schumacher will never again be nominated by the BDR. Only if he explains everything and provides the names of those who must have helped him." (SW)

Three strikes spell end for Schumacher?

Despite collecting a swag of wins in the last three seasons, Stefan Schumacher has also been involved in plenty of controversy over the same period. A positive test for Cathine in 2005, abnormal blood values before the 2007 UCI World Road Championships in Stuttgart, Germany and traces of amphetamines in a police sample following an accident just a week after those championships had already cast Schumacher's performances at this year's Tour de France under a shadow of doubt. Enough doubt for the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) to target the German and seek tests of his blood.

This year's Tour time trials were dominated by Schumacher. He won in Cholet and Saint Amand Montrond, to the surprise of some observers. It was enough to raise the suspicion of AFLD, and when it sought blood to test after urine testing was inconclusive, Schumacher's number was up. The values recorded in his pre-race blood samples did not match those taken after his two time trial victories at this year's Tour.

Schumacher himself said last year that, "I can understand that people think 'he must have a skeleton in his closet'. And as an outsider I would probably also believe that it can't all be a coincidence...I'm not dumb. I know it looks bad."

The German had considered throwing in the towel in January this year after the UCI World Road Championships incident and turning his back on professional cycling. With the latest drama to rock German cycling still in its infancy, it's not yet known if Schumacher will re-visit the possibility of walking away from the sport should the positive prove too difficult for him to overcome.