[http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/6619.0.html] Millar will probably lose world title By Agence France Presse This report filed July 20, 2004
David Millar looked set to lose his world time-trial title after he allegedly admitted he used banned drugs when he won the championship in Canada last October.
The 27-year-old Scot reportedly made the confession to police investigating his Cofidis team, according to a transcript obtained by sports daily l'Equipe.
His lawyer has already said the rider admitted to police ha had used the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) in 2001 and 2003.
"Under normal circumstances we cannot use confidential testimony from a police enquiry," an International Cycling Union official told AFP. "But if Millar confirms what he said, either publicly or at a court hearing, it's not necessary to wait for a verdict in the proceedings."
However, it could be some time before any action is taken as the UCI official said British cycling's governing body would first have to open an investigation.
There have been cases of riders being banned or stripped of titles without a positive drugs test.
Jerome Chiotti of France was stripped of his 1996 world Mountain Bike title after he admitted to doping.
If Millar is stripped of his gold medal then Australian Michael Rogers, runner-up in 2003, would take the title.
Uwe Peschel would move from bronze to silver and fellow German Michael Rich would move from fourth to bronze.
Millar was placed under judicial investigation for illegal possession of toxic products after police found empty viles of Eprex, a commonly used form of EPO, in his apartment in Biarritz.
"I'd dreamed of becoming world champion and I'd achieved it but I cheated," he allegedly told police.
He said he had kept the empty vials to remind him of what he had done.
"I wasn't proud of using drugs, I wasn't happy. I'd become a prisoner of the person I'd become," Millar said.
He said he had found it difficult living up to expectations when he joined Cofidis in 1997 but his team management never tried to persuade him to use drugs.
He claims it was his former Cofidis team-mate Massililiano Lelli of Italy and Euskaltel team doctor Jesus Losa, who supplied him with EPO when he failed to cope with the demands of life on the road.
But he admitted his earnings had risen to 800,000 euros a year after his drug-fuelled successes.
Cofidis has been under investigation since seven of its riders were charged with doping offences. They have all left or been sacked by the team since.
David Millar looked set to lose his world time-trial title after he allegedly admitted he used banned drugs when he won the championship in Canada last October.
The 27-year-old Scot reportedly made the confession to police investigating his Cofidis team, according to a transcript obtained by sports daily l'Equipe.
His lawyer has already said the rider admitted to police ha had used the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) in 2001 and 2003.
"Under normal circumstances we cannot use confidential testimony from a police enquiry," an International Cycling Union official told AFP. "But if Millar confirms what he said, either publicly or at a court hearing, it's not necessary to wait for a verdict in the proceedings."
However, it could be some time before any action is taken as the UCI official said British cycling's governing body would first have to open an investigation.
There have been cases of riders being banned or stripped of titles without a positive drugs test.
Jerome Chiotti of France was stripped of his 1996 world Mountain Bike title after he admitted to doping.
If Millar is stripped of his gold medal then Australian Michael Rogers, runner-up in 2003, would take the title.
Uwe Peschel would move from bronze to silver and fellow German Michael Rich would move from fourth to bronze.
Millar was placed under judicial investigation for illegal possession of toxic products after police found empty viles of Eprex, a commonly used form of EPO, in his apartment in Biarritz.
"I'd dreamed of becoming world champion and I'd achieved it but I cheated," he allegedly told police.
He said he had kept the empty vials to remind him of what he had done.
"I wasn't proud of using drugs, I wasn't happy. I'd become a prisoner of the person I'd become," Millar said.
He said he had found it difficult living up to expectations when he joined Cofidis in 1997 but his team management never tried to persuade him to use drugs.
He claims it was his former Cofidis team-mate Massililiano Lelli of Italy and Euskaltel team doctor Jesus Losa, who supplied him with EPO when he failed to cope with the demands of life on the road.
But he admitted his earnings had risen to 800,000 euros a year after his drug-fuelled successes.
Cofidis has been under investigation since seven of its riders were charged with doping offences. They have all left or been sacked by the team since.