Jan Ullrich's manager, Wolfgang Strohband, has given the T-Mobile Team an ultimatum: "We've been waiting for a week now for a written explanation from T-Mobile as to why Jan was suspended. We have now set them a date for that," he told www.sport1.de.
The team announced on Sunday that it had fired Rudy Pevenage, directeur sportif and Ullrich mentor, effective as of June 30. Rumours are racing through the German media on Sunday evening concerning Ullrich's future.
The German Spiegel magazine and Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper will carry stories on Monday containing what they claim is further information damaging to Ullrich. It cites the transcript of a telephone call allegedly from Pevenage, citing "the third person" who unexpectedly won a time trial on that day, May 18 (the date of the Giro time trial). Another telephone call transcript from May 20 cites Pevenage as saying "the third person" wanted "to have more, even if it just the half," according to Spiegel and SZ.
The products involved had the nicknames "Vino, Nino, Ignacio and PCH", which the Spiegel and SZ translate as blood, growth hormones, insulin and (IFG1) and testosterone. The person identified only as "Jan" allegedly paid 2970 Euros for this package.
Strohband refused to comment to sport1 on the newest charges, saying "I don't know anything about it. I have to have it all in writing before I can say anything."
Gerolsteiner's team manager, Hans-Michael Holczer, told sport1, "Those are the things that the UCI showed us before the Tour. I saw the different telephone numbers on the papers. Otherwise T-Mobile would not have reacted so hard."
Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operación Puerto'
April 2, 2009 - Valverde indignant over possible suspension
April 1, 2009 - Valverde: Italy requests two-year suspension
March 13, 2009 - Le Monde newspaper hit with fine over Puerto allegations
March 2, 2009 - WADA president Fahey asks for Puerto evidence
February 24, 2009 - Spanish federation seeks access to Puerto blood bags
February 20, 2009 - CONI considers Valverde case while UCI awaits verdict
February 19, 2009 - Valverde under criminal investigation
February 11, 2009 - Valverde summonsed for Operación Puerto in Italy
February 8, 2009 - Eight charged in Operación Puerto
Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operación Puerto
