American bicycle racer Tyler Hamilton officially has inked a deal with the new Italy-based Tinkoff Credit Systems team, which is focused on a run at the 2007 Giro d'Italia bike race.
In making the annnouncement, the 35-year-old cyclist issued an interesting statement regarding “mistakes” that's been quoted a couple of different ways.
According to the Associated Press:
“Mistakes have been made and the price I had to pay was very high. I've spent long months of turmoil that I've managed to overcome thanks to the help of my family and dearest friends. Now I am ready for a new challenge.”
According to Reuters:
“I have made a mistake and I paid a very high price for it. But I'm ready to make a comeback. After months and months of waiting and agonizing soul searching, I can't wait to get back into some serious competition.”
Is Hamilton talking about the blood transfusion charges and resulting ban? No doubt. But there's a legion of difference between “mistakes were made” and “I have made a mistake.” I'm doubting that Hamilton would be owning up to anything after denying doping charges for so long; I think Reuters got it wrong.
Doping ban
Hamilton ended a two-year ban from professional cycling on Sept. 22 after he tested positive for a blood transfusion at the Vuelta a Espana bike race in 2004.
He also tested positive for blood doping at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens after winning the Olympic gold medal for the time trial, but that test was thrown out when his “B” sample was mishandled.
Hamilton vehemently denied that he doped with another person's blood, arguing that the secondary blood cells that showed up in samples were cells of his twin that died before birth. The Court for Arbitration of Sport didn't buy that explanation.
Tinkoff cycling team
The Tinkoff team is owned by Russian brewer Olag Tinkoff. The team also has signed German cyclist Danilo Hondo, who has served a one-year doping ban, and is trying to get Jan Ullrich, who is under investigation for doping.
Hamilton's contract is for one year.
More at CyclingNews and VeloNews.
Update: Hamilton's statement
The Tyler Hamilton website has been updated a statement, which reads in part:
“I am looking forward to putting the difficult ordeal of the last two years behind me and I am grateful to Oleg Tinkoff for believing in my potential and my future as a cyclist …”
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