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Jaksche ready to talk

By Agence France Presse
Published: Jun. 29, 2007

German Jörg Jaksche, one of dozens of cyclists implicated in the Operación Puerto doping scandal which erupted last year, is set to make a series of stunning revelations about current doping practices.

Jaksche's lawyer Michael Lehner said on Friday the German, who has protested his innocence but been suspended from all competition due to his alleged links to the affair, will reveal all in German weekly magazine Der Spiegel on Monday.

The Tour de France begins in London on July 7, and organizers and the sport's world ruling body have taken serious steps in a bid to finally bring an end to cheating in the sport.

Jaksche, the 2004 Paris-Nice winner who joined the Russian second division outfit Tinkoff in April, appears ready to make his own contribution by revealing all he knows about doping.

Lehner said the former Liberty Seguros rider "will not just admit to doping himself, but will shed light on what really goes on in the peloton, and who the main (doping) protagonists are."

Operación Puerto erupted in May 2006, when Spanish police raided the premises of Spanish sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and found bags of blood, banned substances and names of 200 athletes, including 60 cyclists.

Jaksche was linked to one of the codenames found on the bags of blood, but he denied that the moniker "Bella Jorg" related to him.

Germany's 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich was implicated, as was Italian Ivan Basso.

Since then, 2006 Giro d’Italia champion Basso has admitted his links to Fuentes, confirming that the name "Birillo" - found on a bag of blood - was the name of his dog. He was banned for two years two weeks ago.

Jaksche was one of the 13 riders, including Basso and Ullrich, who were prevented from riding last year's Tour de France because of their implication in the affair.

As well as making revelations, his lawyer said he is ready to act as a witness for the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), the UCI and legal authorities.

His decision follows the latest in a long line of moves to keep him from competing.

On Thursday the German cycling federation (BDR) stopped him from racing in the national road race championships in Wiesbaden.

BDR president Rudolf Scharping applauded Jaksche's decision.

"If he is really going to make these revelations, then he deserves respect although he has taken his time about deciding to do so," said Scharping.