Had enough of doping: German television cancels Tour du France coverage

Had enough of doping: German television cancels Tour du France coverage

The German TV-channels ARD and ZDF cancelled their Tour de France coverage after it became known that T-Mobile rider Patrick Sinkewitz had tested positive for doping.

Source: VG.no http://www1.vg.no/sport/sykkel/tour-de-france-2007/artikkel.php?artid=152971

The TV-channels made it very clear ahead of this year’s Tour de France that they would pack up and go home if a single rider was caught for doping in 2007.

They now showed that they were serious.

ARD and ZDF will not resume coverage before the case has been discussed. Sinkewitz tested positive for testosterone in a test conducted outside competition on June 8. The German cycling Federation confirms that Sinkewitz has tested positive. The rider has five days to request the B-test to be analyzed.

– It’s not possible. I don’t know anything about it. I’m scheduled to have surgery now and can’t say more about it now, says Sinkewitz to the German news agency DPA.

Sinkewitz crashed with a spectator in Sunday's tour stage. Sinkewitz was injured and was not able to finish the race. He is now out of the Tour.

He is now in Hamburg, Germany awaiting facial surgery.