Among the riders whose names were released as having doped at the Tour in 1998 are Pantani, Ullrich, Jalabert, Durand, Desbiens, Zabel, Cipollini, Tafi, Minali, Serrano, Olano, Blijlevens, Livingston and Hamburger. Bobby Julich who was on the Paris podium with Ullrich and Pantani was not on the list, though he previously had admitted his role.
Lance Armstrong, who admitted having used doping, said Thursday is “not surprised” that 18 riders of the Tour de France in 1998 were identified as consumers of EPO by a commission of the French Senate. “My first reaction is say I’m not surprised. As I said, it was an unhappy time for all of us. Each of us potentially broke the rules and lied about it. I leave it to others to determine in each case whether the punishments distributed or not comply with the crimes committed by each added Armstrong. If, instead of uniting us and discuss, we draw a line in the sand before moving on to something else, we’re done.”
Pantani, who died in 2004, and Ullrich retained their positions on the podium of the Tour de France unlike Armstrong. Ullrich was guilty of doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2012, but suspended its results and only covered the period from 2005 to his retirement in 2007.
Jalabert has said he takes responsibility but has not admitted to having doped.
The 1995 World Champion and winner of the 1998 Vuelta, Abraham Olano, was technical director of the Tour of Spain but the contract between the company Unipublic was canceled Thursday morning as part of the list of riders doped with EPO during the 1998 Tour when the report of the Senate inquiry on the fight against doping.
Blijlevens win in the 1995 Tour de France, alongside Moncassin, Abdoujaparov, and Cipollini.
After the publication of the report of the Senate inquiry on the fight against doping, Belkin announced the “immediate” departure of sporting director Jeroen Blijlevens, who took EPO during 1998 and 1999 Tours. The reason for this decision is the use of doping by Jeroen Blijlevens recognized today at a meeting with management.” He admits taking EPO during the 1998 Tour. “In 1997, I decided for the first time use of EPO in the Tour,” wrote the 41-year-old rider, who won four stages of the Tour de France (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998), five stages of the Tour of Spain and two of the Tour of Italy.
Zulle Brochard Tafi
Zabel and son waving in Paris
Jacky Durand win in 1994
