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World champ admits to cheating
20/07/2004 13:10 - (SA)
Paris - David Millar has allegedly admitted he was using banned drugs when he won the world time-trial 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 he had used the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) in 2001 and 2003.
He was placed under judicial investigation for illegal possession of toxic products after police found empty capsules of Eprex, a commonly used form of EPO, in his flat 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 capsules 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."
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 a year after his drug-fuelled successes.
Cofidis have been under investigation since seven of their riders were charged with doping offences.
They have all left or been sacked by the team since.
- AFP
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