Cycling: Sean Yates retires, and denies any doping link

By JEAN LAFOND
Published on 29/10/2012 01:57

SEAN Yates has refuted reports his departure from Team Sky and subsequent retirement from professional cycling was forced by an admission of any kind.

The lead sports director was a key figure as Bradley Wiggins triumphed in this year’s Tour de France but Team Sky confirmed Yates’ departure yesterday.

Yet both the British team and the 52-year-old denied a report in a Sunday newspaper which suggested Yates had left his role after an interview with general manager Dave Brailsford, who has stressed there must be a zero tolerance policy over doping within the team.

Yates acknowledges there will be rumours surrounding his departure from Team Sky but insists he is exiting the sport for personal reasons.

In a statement, he said: “The last three years with Team Sky have been fantastic and a highlight of my long career in cycling. I’m proud to have been involved with the team at such an incredible time for the sport.

“I have suffered with my health in recent years and have spent a lot of time away from my home, so I feel the time is right to focus on myself and my family.

“I realise the timing of my retirement will lead to speculation given what is currently going on in the sport, but I can walk away with my head held high knowing I have done nothing wrong.”

Yates’ decision comes just three days after Team Sky lost another key staff member when Bobby Julich stood down from his role as race coach.

American Julich admitted to having taken a banned substance in the late 1990s during his racing career and his two-year spell came to an end on Thursday.

A statement from Team Sky said: “Sean Yates, Team Sky’s lead sports director since 2010, has decided to retire from cycling after three decades in the sport.

“After Team Sky reaffirmed its position on anti-doping, the management team started a series of individual interviews with riders, management and support staff.

“Sean has been interviewed and there were no admissions or disclosures that would have required him to leave the team.”

Yates was a high-profile recruit ahead of Team Sky’s first season two years ago.

After retiring from full-time riding in 1996 following a career as one of the greatest domestiques of cycling’s modern era, Yates briefly worked with the Linda McCartney team before switching to Discovery in 2005.

There he took Lance Armstrong, with whom he had forged a successful personal relationship in his riding days, to the last of his seven – now rescinded – Tour de France titles before moving on to Team Sky.

“Sean joined us in our first year and has been with us for three tough but rewarding seasons,” Brailsford said.

“After a long career in professional cycling, he has told us that he wants to move on, for purely personal reasons.

“Sean has been a great support to the riders on the road and a valuable colleague to us all. We wish him the best for the next step in his life.”