German cyclists wishing to represent their country in Olympic competition must agree to provide a DNA sample first, Rudolf Scharping, president of the German cycling federation (BDR) announced on Tuesday. "No DNA sample, no Olympics," Scharping told press agency dpa.
"Doping has been following us like a plague since July 2006," continued Scharping. "The BDR's strict anti-doping course will become the standard in international cycling."
The new measures apply to all German riders, including those living outside the country or riding for non-German teams. All samples will to be stored at the Frieburg University Clinic according to BDR sport director Burkhard Bremer.
The clinic is currently investigating allegations from former Team Telekom soigneur Jeff D'Hont that two of its doctors, Lothar Heinrich and Andreas Schmid, provided EPO to former riders Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich. Scharping has said he expects the T-Mobile Team (formerly Telekom) to thoroughly investigate the allegations. "The clinic and T-Mobile will clear up the affair," he said.
