Team says Kittel not under suspicion
Project 1t4i officials say Marcel Kittel is not under suspicion as a doping investigation unfolds in Germany
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Team officials from Project 1t4i say their star sprinter, Marcel Kittel, is not under suspicion as a doping investigation unfolds in Germany.
The German TV channel, ARD, reported Saturday that officials are looking into the practices of Dr. Andreas Franke, who was working for the German Olympic team.
The program reported that Kittel, as well as other current Project 1t4i riders Patrick Gretsch and John Degenkolb, had contact with Dr. Franke.
Team officials released a detailed statement outlining that the contact these riders had with Dr. Franke was when they were ill during their junior racing days in 2007-2008.
The statement says that Kittel underwent a UV treatment, when blood was extracted from his body, treated with UV-rays, and re-inserted.
Team officials said no one from WADA, the UCI or the Germany authorities have contacted Kittel or anyone else on the team.
Kittel — who won a stage in last year’s Vuelta a España and emerged as one of the top young sprinters last season — is set to race the Etoile de Bessèges, which begins Tuesday in France.