Cycling: Jan Ullrich waits for decision over lifetime doping ban

FORMER Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich will find out in January whether he’ll get a lifetime ban from cycling for links to doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said yesterday it expects to rule “in approximately six weeks” on an appeal filed by the International Cycling Union.

Cycling’s governing body challenged the Swiss Olympic committee, which dropped an investigation into Ullrich’s links with Operation Puerto, a 2006 Spanish probe into doping in sports.

Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, is German, but raced with a Swiss licence. Swiss officials said last year they have no authority over Ullrich, who gave up his license in 2006.

Ullrich served a six-month ban after testing positive for amphetamines in June 2002.

A second doping conviction could mean a life ban from working in cycling, including as a coach or team manager.

CAS set its target for a January verdict in the UCI’s appeal when dismissing a similar case brought by the Swiss anti-doping agency.

The court said it had no jurisdiction because the Swiss agency was formed in 2008 after Ullrich retired.

CAS added that yesterday’s dismissal of one appeal against Ullrich “does not prejudge the forthcoming decision” in the UCI’s case.

The court panel could opt to make a ruling on Ullrich’s alleged doping, or merely send the case back to Swiss Olympic for a fresh hearing.