Swiss halt Ullrich investigation

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Swiss cycling authorities have halted an investigation into former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich until new evidence comes to light.

Ullrich, who says he is innocent, was fired by T-Mobile in July after being linked to the Spanish doping scandal.

But the Swiss authorities cannot use evidence received from the Spanish probe because it was forwarded on condition it was not used officially.

Ullrich was thrown out of this year's Tour de France after the Spanish probe.

Although Ullrich is German, he has Swiss residence and rode with a Swiss cycling licence before splitting with the Swiss Cycling Federation in October.

Lorenz Schlaefli, director of the SCF, said: "Since these documents cannot be used, there's no sense continuing this process.

"I find it very trying. I think the whole procedure was done badly, from the beginning in Spain.

<a class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/6066504.stm">Ullrich drops Switzerland licence</a>

"(But) it's not finished afterwards. This doesn't mean we can't open new proceedings.

"If there's something else, it's clear that we can reopen it afterwards."

The disciplinary chamber of the Swiss Olympic Committee's anti-doping chamber aims to start proceedings against Ullrich in January.

Meanwhile, the head of British cycling's governing body wants riders involved in current doping investigations to stay away from the start of next year's Tour de France in London.

"This will be a historic event, in the heart of one of the world's great cities, a fantastic opportunity for our sport," British Cycling president Brian Cookson said.

"We really do not want to see this tarnished by a repeat of the doping scandals of 2006, so, frankly, we urge all those with involvement in various investigations to stay away."

The 94th edition of the Tour will begin in London on 7 July.