Now with English subtitles - my interview with Jan Ullrich - about his doping past and all ups and downs (unfortunately more downs) in his life - during and after his career as a pro cyclist. | Sportschau - YouTube @DasErste @sportschau youtube.com/watch?v=xTBp2X…
Jan Ullrich opens up to German 'doping-hunter' Hajo Seppelt, 17 years after infamous interview bust-up
CyclingFriday, 01 December 2023 at 16:30
Jan Ullrich has been a much-talked-about figure in the cycling world in recent days following his admission that yes, he did indeed dope during his cycling peak many years ago.
Seventeen years ago, Ullrich was interviewed by renowned German journalist and so-called 'doping-hunter' Hajo Seppelt. Back then, the 1997 Tour de France winner still fiercely denied using any performance-enhancing drugs. What ensued was an infamous interview in which the pair clashed fiercely. Having now finally come to terms with his mistakes however, Ullrich and Seppelt have done another interview, this time much more well-mannered, but no less watchable.
"I was really down. As an athlete, I also suffered a lot, but after my career, that suffering took a turn in the wrong direction. In 2018 I was at my worst, that's all a person could handle physically and mentally. The next step, for all practical purposes, would have been death," Ullrich explains in the interview for Sportschau.
"I barely survived that extreme life crisis, crash. After two years of strengthening myself physically and mentally, I came to the decision that I really needed to get back on track in life. I actually lost a lot of years, years when my children were even smaller. I'm already mourning that, because it was born of personal mistakes and weakness."
For those interested in watching the interview in full, you can do so courtesy of Sportschau's official YouTube channel!
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