Editing Jan Ullrich (section)

==Biography==

=== Early life and amateur career ===
At a young age, Ullrich joined [[SG Dynamo Rostock]] ([[:de:Polizei SV Rostock|de]]) in his hometown. He won his first bicycle race at the age of nine while riding in sports shoes and on a rented bicycle. He was educated in the sports training system of the [[German Democratic Republic]] attending the KJS [[sports school]] in Berlin in 1986. In 1988, he was champion of the [[German Democratic Republic]]. The school closed two years after the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] in 1989. He, his trainer Peter Sager, and teammates joined an amateur club in Hamburg until 1994.<ref name="ndr">{{cite web |last1=Freytag |first1=Johannes |title=Jan Ullrich: Vom Aufsteiger zum Aussteiger |url=https://www.ndr.de/sport/legenden/Jan-Ullrich-Vom-Aufsteiger-zum-Aussteiger,ullrich111.html |publisher=[[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]] |access-date=24 September 2019 |language=de |date=11 August 2018}}</ref> In 1991, he was 5th in the amateur cyclo-cross world championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=3003 |title=Jan Ullrich coureur d'un jour |publisher=Cyclismag |access-date=5 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928021840/http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=3003 |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref>

In 1993, aged 19, Ullrich won the amateur road title at the [[1993 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]] in [[Oslo]], as [[Lance Armstrong]] won the professional championship.<ref name="ndr"/> The following year, he finished third behind [[Chris Boardman]] and [[Andrea Chiurato]] in the [[1994 UCI Road World Championships – Men's time trial|world time trial championship]] in [[Sicily]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ullrich quits cycling at age of 33 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/02/26/cycling.ullrich/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>

=== Early professional career ===
In 1995, Ullrich turned professional for the Telekom team under [[Walter Godefroot]].<ref name=ndr/>

Ullrich was inconspicuous in his first 18 months as a professional. In 1995 he became national [[time trial]] champion.<ref name="highlow_cn">{{cite web |last1=Westemeyer |first1=Susan |title=Jan Ullrich: A career of highs and lows |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/jan-ullrich-a-career-of-highs-and-lows/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=24 September 2019 |date=28 February 2007}}</ref> He also achieved top ten placings on stages of the 1995 [[Tour de Suisse]]. At 21 he wanted to start the [[1995 Tour de France]] but Godefroot thought it was early. Instead he went to the small German stage race, the Hofbräu Cup, where he ended third. Ullrich started the [[1995 Vuelta a España]] later that year only to abandon on stage 12.<ref name="pais97">{{cite news |last1=Arribas |first1=Carlos |title=Aquel septiembre del 95 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1997/09/05/deportes/873410418_850215.html |newspaper=[[El País]] |access-date=20 July 2018 |date=5 September 1997}}</ref>

=== 1996 Tour de France ===
Ullrich gave up a place in the 1996 German Olympic team to ride his first Tour. He finished the prologue 33 seconds down. He stayed within the top 20 until the mountains on stage 7 when [[Miguel Induráin]] cracked. Ullrich finished 30 seconds back, 22 behind his teammate [[Bjarne Riis]] while Indurain finished four minutes down. On the following stage, he finished in the same group as Indurain 40 seconds behind Riis. On stage 9, Riis rode into the yellow jersey as leader of the [[General classification in the Tour de France|general classification]] while Ullrich finished 44 seconds back and also into 5th place overall 1-minute 38 seconds from Riis.

Over the final mountains, Ullrich rode into second place behind Riis, but he conceded time on each mountain stage, eventually being nearly four minutes behind Riis. He won the final [[individual time trial]] and secured his first Tour stage win. He cut 2 minutes 18 seconds into Riis's lead. This led Indurain to comment that Ullrich would win the Tour some day, adding that it was a remarkable victory considering that Ullrich had been helping Riis. Ullrich dismissed suggestions he would have done better if he had not had to help Riis, saying Riis had inspired the team.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/tour96/rep20.html |title=Stage 20 Reports |publisher=Cyclingnews |access-date=5 April 2007}}</ref> Jan finished his first tour in second place at 1-minute 41 seconds from his teammate [[Bjarne Riis]].

=== 1997 Tour de France ===
[[File:Jan Ullrich and Udo Bölts, 1997.jpg|thumb|left|Ullrich with teammate Udo Bölts crossing the Vosges mountains during the 1997 [[Tour de France]]]]

Ullrich had 2 wins before the 1997 Tour; a stage in the [[Tour de Suisse]] and the national [[Road bicycle racing|Road Race]] championship a week before the tour. He became favorite in the [[1997 Tour de France]]. He started strongly, finishing second in the prologue behind [[Chris Boardman]]. On stage 9, the first mountain stage which was won by [[Laurent Brochard]], Ullrich worked for Riis. Only on the last ascent when [[Richard Virenque]] attacked did Ullrich react. Riis struggled to keep up and finished 30 seconds behind Virenque, [[Marco Pantani]] and Ullrich. On stage 10 from Luchon to [[Andorra Arcalis]], with Riis again falling back, Ullrich dropped back to the team car to ask permission to attack. He returned to the lead group and pushed up the climb leaving Pantani and Virenque. He finished a minute ahead<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/tour97/stage10.html|title=Stage 10 Reports|publisher=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> which earned his first yellow jersey as leader of the [[General classification in the Tour de France|general classification]]. ''[[L'Équipe]]'', greeted Ullrich with ''Voilà le Patron'' ("Here is the boss"). Ullrich won the Stage 12 time trial with three minutes between himself and the second placed rider, Virenque, who had started three minutes in front of him.

[[Marco Pantani]] attacked on the stage to the [[Alpe d'Huez]]. Ullrich, who was nine minutes ahead of Pantani overall, limited his losses to 47 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/tour97/stage13.html|title=Stage 13 results and report|publisher=cyclingnews.com|access-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> Pantani attacked again on the Morzine stage and won, while Ullrich again limited his losses. In the final time trial, won by [[Abraham Olano]], Ullrich extended his lead over Virenque and the following day became the first German to win the [[Tour de France]]. At 23, Ullrich was the fourth youngest winner of the Tour since 1947. Two weeks later, he won the Hews Cycling Classic in Hamburg. A further two weeks later Ullrich was beaten by [[Davide Rebellin]] in a sprint in the GP Suisse. He was chosen "sports person of the year" in Germany in 1997.

=== 1998 Tour de France ===
Ullrich was defending champion in 1998. He took the lead in the general classification on stage 7, a time trial, over 58&nbsp;km of undulating roads. However, on stage 15 [[Marco Pantani]] blew the Tour apart with a victory which began on the Galibier. Ullrich was without support when Pantani attacked. Pantani topped the Galibier alone. It was misty and the roads were wet. The descent was dangerous and Pantani increased his lead. By the bottom of the final climb, Les Deux Alpes, Pantani had nearly four minutes. Telekom brought [[Udo Bölts]] and then Riis to pace Ullrich. Pantani was race leader as he crossed the line. Ullrich finished almost nine minutes back, dropping to fourth position, six minutes behind Pantani.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/1998/tour98/stage15.html |title=Stage 15 Brief |publisher=Cyclingnews |access-date=5 April 2007}}</ref>

Ullrich attacked on stage 16 on the Col de la Madeleine. Only Pantani could match him. Over the top, they started to work together. Ullrich won a photo-finish sprint and moved into third. He won the final stage, a 20&nbsp;km time trial, and moved into second.

The Tour of 1998 was haunted by doping affairs, giving it the nickname "Tour de Dopage."

In the following year during the inaugural [[Deutschland Tour]], Ullrich fell after getting entangled with [[Udo Bölts]] during stage 3. He had a knee injury and could not ride the 1999 Tour, which ended in the first of seven 'victories' for [[Lance Armstrong]]. Ullrich set his targets on the world time trial championship in October by riding the Vuelta.

=== 1999 Vuelta a España ===
On the first mountain stage, Ullrich narrowly won against the defending [[Vuelta a España]] champion [[Abraham Olano]] of [[Team ONCE]] in a group sprint that included [[Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)|Frank Vandenbroucke]], [[Roberto Heras]] and [[Davide Rebellin]]. Olano took the leader's golden jersey with Ullrich second. Olano won the following stage, a time trial, with almost one minute over Ullrich and increased his lead in stage 8. On stage 11, Ullrich gained 30 seconds back on Olano. Ullrich took the lead on stage 12 won by [[Igor González de Galdeano]], Olano faltered due to a broken rib and finished seven minutes behind Ullrich. He later abandoned the race.

Gonzales de Galdeano had moved into second overall and became a threat to Ullrich. On stage 18 [[Banesto]] and other Spanish teams tried to crack Ullrich, who struggled on the final climb but recovered to limit his losses to González. In the final time trial, Ullrich won by almost three minutes and built his overall lead to four minutes on González. Ullrich won his second major Tour. Several weeks later he became world time trial champion over Sweden's Michael Andersson and Briton [[Chris Boardman]].

==='Eternal second' behind Armstrong===

====2000–2002 Tours====
The [[2000 Tour de France]] brought Ullrich, Marco Pantani and Armstrong against each other for the first time. Armstrong proved too strong and won then and again in 2001. Ullrich crashed during a descent in 2001 and Armstrong waited for him to return to his bike.<ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2003-07-21-tour-fall_x.htm |title=Lance's fall leads to display of Tour sportsmanship |work=USA Today  |date=21 July 2003 |access-date=2 October 2009}}</ref> Ullrich cited his failure to defeat Armstrong as why he fell into depression the following year.

Ullrich rode well in the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney, Australia. After establishing a three-man break with Telekom teammates [[Andreas Klöden]] and [[Alexander Vinokourov]], Ullrich won the gold with Vinokourov second and Klöden rounding out the all-Telekom podium. He won the silver in the time-trial, losing by only seven seconds to [[Viatcheslav Ekimov]] but beating Armstrong soundly into third.

In May 2002, Ullrich had his driver's license revoked after a [[drunk driving]] incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/index.php?id=2002/may02/may06news |title=Ullrich's blood alcohol level more than 1.4 g/L|publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |date=6 May 2002 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> After a positive blood sample for [[amphetamine]] in June 2002,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2002/jul02/jul04news2 |title=Ullrich tests non-negative for amphetamines |publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |date=4 July 2002 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> Ullrich's contract with Team Telekom was ended, and he was banned for six months. He said he had taken [[ecstasy (drug)|ecstasy]] with amphetamine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2002/jul02/jul06news2 |title=Ullrich foregoes B test: "It was a stupidity"|publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |date=6 July 2002 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> He had not been racing since January due to a knee injury,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2002/may02/may08news |title=Ullrich concedes in Battle of Jan's Knee|publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> and the [[German Cycling Federation]]'s disciplinary committee agreed that he was not attempting to use the drug for [[doping (Sport)|performance enhancement]], so he was given a minimum suspension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2002/jul02/jul24news |title=Ullrich given six months suspension|publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref>

Following a disappointing 2002 season, Ullrich was looking for a new team, with interest coming from {{UCI team code|CSC|2002}},<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henry |first1=Chris |title=Ullrich confident about CSC move |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2002/nov02/nov03news |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=3 November 2002}}</ref> {{UCI team code|SAE|2002}},<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeff |title=Saeco interested in Ullrich |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2002/nov02/nov19news |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=19 November 2002}}</ref> and {{UCI team code|PHO|2003}}.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeff |title=Phonak steps up in Ullrich bidding |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/jan03/jan06news |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=6 January 2003}}</ref>

====2003 Tour and sportsmanship====
On 13 January 2003, Ullrich, along with his advisor [[Rudy Pevenage]], joined [[Team Coast]] on a multi-million Euro deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/2648577.stm |title=Ullrich moves to Coast |publisher=BBC News |date=15 January 2003 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=coast>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeff |title=Ullrich announces new team |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/jan03/jan13news |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=13 January 2003}}</ref> Financial problems at the team were known from the beginning of the season.<ref name=coast/> These led to the Coast team folding in May 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ullrich verläßt Team Coast |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/radsport-ullrich-verlaesst-team-coast-1102609.html |access-date=23 September 2019 |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |date=14 May 2003 |language=de}}</ref> Ullrich moved on to the newly founded [[Team Bianchi]], set up from the remainders of Coast by [[Jacques Hanegraaf]], a former cyclist at Team Telekom.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nell |first1=Fred |last2=Wagner |first2=Lutz |title=Das Team Coast ist tot, es lebe Bianchi! |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/sport/article106684924/Das-Team-Coast-ist-tot-es-lebe-Bianchi.html |access-date=23 September 2019 |work=[[Hamburger Abendblatt]] |date=27 May 2003 |language=de}}</ref>

The [[2003 Tour de France]] was the first for many years that Ullrich had not been considered a favorite. In the first week, Ullrich became sick and almost retired. He lost a minute and a half on Armstrong in the Alps. Ullrich fought back in the time trial. Armstrong had trouble with the heat and lost one and a half minutes to Ullrich. Ullrich was within a minute of Armstrong in the classification. The next day, he closed the gap by another 19 seconds in the first mountain stage. Two days later Ullrich rode away from Armstrong on the [[Tourmalet]] but Armstrong caught up. Halfway into the next climb, Luz Ardiden, Armstrong's handlebar got caught in a spectator's yellow [[Glossary of bicycling#Musette|musette]] waving in the air and he fell. Ullrich waited for Armstrong to recover, returning the courteous display by Armstrong 2 years previously.<ref name="usatoday.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2003/07/21/story106890.asp |title=BreakingNews.ie – 2003/07/21: Armstrong wins as Ullrich pays for sportsmanship |publisher=Archives.tcm.ie |access-date=2 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040517062136/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2003/07/21/story106890.asp |archive-date=17 May 2004}}</ref><ref name="accessmylibrary1">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8178642_ITM |title=Article: Ullrich's courtesy one of the few possibly costly gestures in sports. &#124; AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy |publisher=AccessMyLibrary |date=26 July 2003 |access-date=2 October 2009 | first=Ted | last=Hutton}}</ref> Armstrong then caught the group and attacked shortly afterwards.

Ullrich lost 40 seconds in the final kilometers, but the final time trial would be decisive. In it, Ullrich crashed and saw a stage and Tour victory disappear. He finished second, by 71 seconds.

For waiting on Armstrong after his fall during the stage to Luz Ardiden, the German Olympic Association (''Deutsche Olympische Gesellschaft'') gave Ullrich their fair-play medal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Armstrong-Sturz: "Ullrich wartete nicht auf mich" |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/armstrong-sturz-ullrich-wartete-nicht-auf-mich-a-266959.html |access-date=23 September 2019 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=24 September 2003 |language=de}}</ref> Commenting on Ullrich's wait for Armstrong to recover, Dan Boyle, of the Institute for International Sport said  "It was an act that will live with him forever, cynics will say he lost money, but it was a highly commendable thing that he did."<ref name="accessmylibrary1"/>

====2004 and 2005 Tour====
[[File:Jan Ullrich Nacht von Hannover 2005.jpg|thumb|left|Ullrich in [[Hanover]], 2005]]

For 2004 Ullrich returned to Team Telekom, now named [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]]. He won the [[Tour de Suisse]], beating Swiss [[Fabian Jeker]] by one second overall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=swissinfo.ch |first=S. W. I. |date=2004-06-20 |title=Ullrich wins Tour de Suisse by one second |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/ullrich-wins-tour-de-suisse-by-one-second/3960554 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the Tour de France, he finished fourth, 8:50 behind Armstrong, his first finish lower than second. Klöden finished second and [[Ivan Basso]] third.

For 2005, Ullrich again captained T-Mobile. He maintained a low profile for the early season, surfacing in the 2005 [[Tour de Suisse]], which he finished third behind [[Aitor González]] and [[Michael Rogers (cyclist)|Michael Rogers]].
[[file:Jan-ullrich.jpg|thumb|upright|Ullrich in 2005]]
The day before the 2005 Tour de France, Ullrich was training when his team car stopped unexpectedly. Ullrich hit the back window, ending up in the back seat of the car. Less than 24 hours later Ullrich was passed by Armstrong in the time trial. Ullrich fell again in the mountains, bruising his ribs. He could not keep up with Armstrong or [[Ivan Basso]]. Ullrich began focusing on finishing ahead of [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]] for a podium position. He rode a good second time trial, beating all but Armstrong. Rasmussen had several crashes and bike changes, which gave Ullrich a podium place in the Tour.

=== Post-Armstrong ===
Armstrong retired after the Tour in 2005. Ullrich decided to ride one or two more years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jun06/jun05news2|title=Ullrich said he would ride for one or two more years|work=Cyclingnews|date=June 2006}}</ref> Early reports said Ullrich was in better shape than previous years and could be ready for his second victory in the Tour. Ullrich finished 115th in the Tour de Romandie on 30 April. However, he injured his knee in the off-season, which could have limited his performance in the 2006 Tour, had he participated (see below).

In May, riding the [[Giro d'Italia]] to prepare for the Tour, Ullrich targeted the stage 11 50&nbsp;km time trial, and won by 28 seconds over [[Ivan Basso]], who beat [[Marco Pinotti]] by another 33 seconds. Only five riders finished within two minutes of Ullrich.

Ullrich dropped out of the Giro during stage 19, with back pain. [[Rudy Pevenage]] said the problem was not bad but that Ullrich wanted to avoid Tour de France problems.<ref name="ullrichabandons">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrich-abandons|title=Ullrich abandons|work=Cyclingnews|date=27 May 2006|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref>

Ullrich won the [[Tour de Suisse]] for a second time, winning the final time trial and jumping from third to first.

===Doping===
During the [[2006 Giro d'Italia]], Ullrich was mentioned in a doping scandal, [[Operación Puerto]].<ref name="ullrichabandons"/> Ullrich denied the rumors. However, on 30 June 2006, one day before the Tour de France, he was suspended from participating.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2003152284_peep26.html |title="People in Sports: Jan Ullrich looking for new team" Seattle Times, 2006 |publisher=Seattletimes.nwsource.com |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> [[Ivan Basso]] and other riders were also excluded. On 20 July 2006, Ullrich was fired from T-Mobile. General manager Olaf Ludwig announced the news during the 18th stage of the Tour between Morzine and Macon. Ullrich said his dismissal was 'unacceptable.'

:I am very disappointed that this decision was not communicated to me personally but that it was faxed to my lawyers. I find it shameful that after so many years of a good and fruitful working relationship and after all that I have done for the team, I am merely sent a fax.<ref>{{cite news |title=German Cyclist Jan Ullrich Sacked Amid Doping Allegations {{!}} Culture{{!}} Arts, music and lifestyle reporting from Germany |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-cyclist-jan-ullrich-sacked-amid-doping-allegations/a-2106564 |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=21 July 2006}}</ref>

On 3 August 2006, doping expert [[Werner Franke]] claimed Ullrich purchased, in a single year, about €35,000 worth of doping products; his claim was based on documents uncovered in the [[Operación Puerto doping case]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/03082006/3/ullrich-spent-35-000-euros-year-drugs-claims-expert.html |title=Ullrich 'spent 35,000 euros' in a year on drugs claims expert |date=3 August 2006 |access-date=30 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311115123/http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/03082006/3/ullrich-spent-35-000-euros-year-drugs-claims-expert.html |archive-date=11 March 2007 }}</ref> A German court imposed a [[gag order]] on Franke after it found there was not enough evidence to link Ullrich to doping.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=sports&id=5528190|title=Expert: Docs show Tour winner Contador doped|date=31 July 2007|access-date=31 July 2007}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On 14 September 2006, officials raided Ullrich's house and collected DNA material while Ullrich was honeymooning with his new wife Sara. On 4 April 2007, Ullrich's DNA sample, had "without a doubt" matched nine bags of blood taken from [[Eufemiano Fuentes]]' office.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/apr07/apr04news | title = Puerto blood confirmed to be Ullrich's | first =  Hedwig | last = Kröner |work=Cyclingnews| date = 4 April 2007 | access-date =9 July 2007}}</ref>

On 18 October 2006, Ullrich laid off his personal physiotherapist Birgit Krohme. Speculation rose that this was a sign that Ullrich had given up hope of returning to racing. Ullrich denied these rumors. One day later, Ullrich canceled his licence of the Swiss Cycling Federation, and was looking for a different federation for a licence of 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrich-leaves-swiss-federation|title=Ullrich leaves Swiss federation|work=Cyclingnews|date=19 October 2006|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer}}</ref> Ullrich claimed that the Swiss Cycling Federation had to stop their doping investigation, but the Swiss federation continued the investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/swiss-continue-ullrich-investigation|title=Swiss continue Ullrich investigation|work=Cyclingnews|date=23 November 2006|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer}}</ref> On 25 October 2006, a document from the Spanish court on Ullrich's website stated that no charges would be filed.

On Monday, 26 February 2007, Ullrich retired. At the press conference in Hamburg he said, "Today, I'm ending my career as a professional cyclist. I never once cheated as a cyclist." He said he would be an advisor to {{UCI team code|VBG|2007}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/jan-ullrich-retires|title=Jan Ullrich retires|work=Cyclingnews|date=26 February 2007|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer}}</ref>

The [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] has investigated if Ullrich should be stripped of his gold medal won at the 2000 Olympic Games, which was possible because there was an eight-year deadline for investigations, and the investigation started after seven years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrichs-olympic-medals-in-danger|title=Ullrich's Olympic medals in danger?|work=Cyclingnews|date=20 April 2009|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer}}</ref> It was decided that there was no solid evidence against Ullrich, and that Ullrich could keep his medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faz.net/s/RubCBF8402E577F4A618A28E1C67A632537/Doc~E7351CE6B0AEA4F10A240715D48216A45~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html?rss_googlenews|title=Ullrich behält Gold – bis auf Weiteres|last=Simeoni|first=Evi|date=8 February 2010|access-date=8 February 2010|publisher=Frankfurter Algemeine|language=de}}</ref>

In 2008, the German investigation was closed after a settlement, which by German law means Ullrich was found not guilty. The Swiss investigation was still ongoing at that time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/germans-close-ullrich-investigation|title=Germans close Ullrich investigation|work=Cyclingnews|date=14 April 2008|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Gregor|last=Brown}}</ref> but they closed the case in February 2010, because Ullrich was no longer member of the Swiss Cycling Federation, and so they had no jurisdiction after he retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/swiss-drop-ullrich-doping-investigation|title=Swiss drop Ullrich doping investigation|work=Cyclingnews|date=17 February 2010|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> The UCI appealed that decision at the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrich-considering-a-doping-confession|title=Ullrich considering a doping confession?|work=Cyclingnews|date=29 November 2011|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer}}</ref>

In 2010, with the doping allegations still ongoing, Ullrich was diagnosed with burn-out, and avoided public appearances for a few months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrich-victim-of-burnout|title=Ullrich victim of burnout|work=Cyclingnews|date=13 August 2010|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> When [[Lance Armstrong]] announced his comeback as a professional cyclist, Ullrich made clear that he was not going to do the same.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-return-for-ullrich|title=No return for Ullrich|work=Cyclingnews|date=11 September 2009|access-date=24 March 2012|first=Gregor|last=Brown}}</ref>

In February 2012, Ullrich was found guilty of a doping offence by the CAS. He was retroactively banned from 22 August 2011, and all results gained since May 2005 were removed from his Palmares.<ref name="Jan Ullrich CAS ruling" /><ref name="casullrich"/> Ullrich published a statement on his website, that said he would not appeal the decision. He admitted that he had had contact with Fuentes, which he considered a mistake that he now regrets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrich-apologizes-for-fuentes-dealings|title=Ullrich apologizes for Fuentes dealings|work=Cyclingnews|date=10 February 2012|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref>

In June 2013, Ullrich went on record stating that he'd "always said that Lance wouldn't get out of it. He made too many enemies." Later that month, he admitted that he doped with the help of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cyclingtips.com.au/2013/06/jan-ulrich-admits-to-blood-doping/|title=Jan Ulrich admits to blood doping|work=Cyclingtips|date=23 June 2013|access-date=28 June 2013}}</ref> His name was on the list of doping tests published by the [[French Senate]] on 24 July 2013 that were collected during the [[1998 Tour de France]] and found positive for [[Erythropoietin|EPO]] when retested in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/french-senate-releases-positive-epo-cases-from-1998-tour-de-france|title=French Senate releases positive EPO cases from 1998 Tour de France|date=24 July 2013}}</ref>

In 2023, Ullrich admitted to using performance enhancing substances throughout his career, starting from when he turned professional in 1995 with the Telekom team.<ref name=":0" />

===Refusal to return Olympic medals===
At the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]] Ullrich finished 1st in the [[Cycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's road race|men's road race]] and 2nd in the men's time trial race. Unlike Armstrong who had been stripped of his medal and had returned it, he said that he refused to return his medals if he was stripped of his finishes. In an interview with [[Sky Sports]] he said: "Almost everyone at the time was taking performance-enhancing substances. I didn't take anything that was not taken by the others. It would only have been cheating for me if I had gotten an advantage, which was not the case. I just wanted to ensure I had an equal opportunity."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ullrich-refuses-to-hand-over-olympic-medals|title=Ullrich refuses to hand over Olympic medals|date=5 October 2013|access-date=15 October 2013|publisher=[[Cyclingnews.com]]}}</ref> To date, Ullrich has not been stripped of his finishes.