For some, he is still one of the biggest sport stars in Germany. For others, he is one of the biggest doping sinners in German sports. 7 years after his retirement, Jan Ullrich is still a controversial figure in his home country.

In the RTL TV program "Jenke - Ich bleibe über Nacht" that was broadcast yesterday, Ullrich talked about his cheating, his car accident that involved alcohol and his burn-out syndrome.

In 2006, the 1997 Tour de France champion was sacked by Team Telefon due to blood doping and his links to Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

"I have always thought that I have done everything right," he said. "I have not said that I have never used doping. I have always said that from my point of view, I have never cheated anyone."

Back then Ullrich was convinced that everyone was using the same substances. Now his stance has changed after he was stripped from all his results from 2005 to the end of his career.

"In hindsight, I have realized that I have made a mistake. A big mistake."

In May 2014, Ullrich drove his Citroen into a signpost in the Swiss city of Mattwil. His car hit another motorist and a blood test showed that he was under influence of alcohol. Ullrich now admits his mistake. "I think that I knew that I was not allowed to drive my car," he said. "It was a stupid thing to do.

Now he promises that he "will never drive a car under the influence alcohol."

The German claims not to be drinking any alcohol after he was involved in the accident. 

In 2010, Ullrich often got ill and tired. He was diagnosed with Burn-out Syndrome. "It lasted for a year and a half. She (his wife Sara, ed.) convinced me to undergo therapy."

According to RTL-Reporter Jenke von Wilmsdorff, Ullich seemed to be very honest during the interview.

"I know Ullrich as a very thoughtful person who clearly regrets what he has done. To me, he seemed to be very shy and doesn't like to be in the public spotlight. In that way, the doping case was some kind of double punishment."