Jan Ullrich about systematic doping in his days: "The sponsors knew everything, but they paid me well to not talk about it"

Jan Ullrich has been quite openly speaking out about doping in the 'Armstrong era' recently. Speaking to the German public television WDR, the 1997 Tour winner confrimed that, for a long time, he had deliberately waited to confess to doping until his friend and former rival Lance Armstrong had admitted his guilt.

"I'm glad I gave in, now I can continue my work more easily," he sighs in relief. In his documentary 'Der Gejagte', Ullrich talks openly about his doping use, which culminated in his 1997 Tour victory. "There was so much speculation about it. I had to change something in my life, so I decided to talk about it. It was good for me, the burden became lighter and now I can continue with my work more easily."

"The documentary worked for me as a kind of therapy. Now I can talk about it with my children." Ullrich admits that he waited for the confessions of his great friend and rival Lance Armstrong before coming forward with his story.

"People now understand that doping was something systemic. The sponsors knew everything. I wouldn't call it silence, but they paid me well. It was a mutual agreement not to talk about it."