Jan Ullrich may have ended his career almost 7 years ago but the German can still not put an end to the legal battles that have followed in the aftermath of his time as a professional bike rider. In February 2014, he will go to court to settle a case with former Team Coast owner Günther Dahms who is trying to get back three months' salary stemming from Ullrich's time at the team in 2003.
Jan Ullrich's only remaining connection with the cycling world is his repeated participations in charity races but the 1997 Tour de France champion continues to make headlines in his home country. On February 12, 2014, he will go to court in Essen in a case that goes back to his time with Team Coast in 2003.
Having tested positive for amphetamine while recovering from a knee injury in 2002, Ullrich served a suspension before returning to competition in 2003 with Team Coast. In November 2008, a court ruled that the owner of the team, Günther Dahm, had to pay Ullrich almost 500.000 euros in unpaid wages.
At that time, Ullrich had sworn under oath that he had not used any doping products from January 1 rto March 31, 2003, while he was riding for the team. Since then, the German has, however, served a two-year ban for his involvement in Operacion Puerto and while he hasn't given a detailed confession, he has admitted to having used the services of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
If Ullrich was indeed doped in 2003, he has violated the terms in his contract. Hence, Dahms is now trying to get back 300.000 euros corresponding to the salary for those three months.
Ullrich was one of the two big favourites for the 2006 Tour de France when he name turned up in documents from the Puerto case. He was taken out of the race on the eve of the Grand Depart and never returned to competition, announcing his retirement in February 2007.
Following a lengthy legal process, he was handed a suspension for his offences. The ban ended in August.
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