Two German public TV channels stopped airing the Tour de France after a member of the T-Mobile pro cycling team tested positive for a high level of testosterone.
The cyclist, Patrik Sinkewitz, dropped out of the tour on Sunday after he rode his bike into a spectator.
Sinkewitz was tested during training on June 8, and the results just came back. He's been suspended from the T-Mobile pending the testing of the B sample, according to an article in the International Herald Tribune.
The German-based T-Mobile team has been rif with doping controvery involving Jan Ullrich, Erik Zabel and even former rider Bjarne Riis, who admitted that he doped on his Tour de France win in 1996.
The two German channels, ZDF and ARD, originally announced they wouldn't broadcast the Tour de France because of the dopinig controveries. They decided to air the race as the prologue approached, but now have changed their programming.
Bob Stapleton, the director of the T-Mobile team, said:
“It’s a big shock to us, but we always knew the challenge facing us in the fight against doping. However, this result also shows the effectiveness of the NADA testing system, as well as emphasizing the importance of out-of-competition testing.”
According to a team press release:
Christian Frommert, director of sponsoring communication at Deutsche Telekom AG, commented on the future of the company's cycling sponsorship: “After the Tour de France everybody involved will sit down to discuss the way forward in a calm and considered way.”
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