Hamilton Fired By Racing Team

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The New York Sun

GENEVA – Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton was fired by his cycling team two months after testing positive for blood doping.


The Swiss-based International Cycling Union, or UCI, said yesterday the Phonak team told the governing body that the American rider’s contract was terminated last week.


Hamilton later confirmed the move on his Web site.


“After many discussions with team management, we concluded together that it would not be possible for the team to continue at the level we hoped with my name on the roster,” he said.


Phonak was denied a racing license by the UCI yesterday because of the team’s doping problems. Hamilton and two other Phonak riders – Spain’s Santi Perez and Switzerland’s Oscar Camenzind – have been charged in drug cases in the past three months.


The decision means Phonak is barred from competing in all major events next year on UCI’s Pro Tour – which includes the Tour de France. Phonak told UCI about Hamilton’s dismissal while the organization was considering whether to issue the tour license, but the governing body said the decision to fire Hamilton made no difference in its decision.


Hamilton’s contract was scheduled to expire in December 2005. He said he agreed to leave to improve the team’s chances of competing on the pro tour.


“While at Phonak, I played a large role in bringing in various sponsors, riders and staff,” Hamilton said. “It is out of loyalty to them and the remaining riders and staff that I accepted the premature termination of my contract.”


Hamilton first tested positive for blood doping after winning the time trial at the Athens Olympics in August. But the case was dropped after his backup sample was frozen, leaving too few red blood cells to analyze.


Hamilton tested positive again for an illegal blood transfusion at the Spanish Vuelta in September, with both samples confirming the result. He faces a possible two-year ban if found guilty.


“I am more committed than ever to getting to the bottom of all this,” he said yesterday. “I am looking forward to the judicial process in my case and having the opportunity to prove my innocence.”


The New York Sun

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