Ullrich given all-clear for Tour

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Growing doubts that T-Mobile team leader Jan Ullrich might be prevented from starting the Tour de France after his name was cited in the Spanish press during the ongoing Operacion Puerto affair have been allayed by race organisers ASO. "There is no problem with Ullrich. He has not been officially identified," said ASO spokesman Philippe Sudres.

This news came after Ullrich and his team had released statements denying any link between the German rider and those individuals implicated in the Operacion Puerto blood doping affair, notably former ONCE and Kelme team doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

However, Tour boss Jean-Marie Leblanc was blunt when asked what his reaction would be if Ullrich was definitely implicated in the Operacion Puerto investigation. "Either his team would have to withdraw or we would do it ourselves," he said.

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