Further Millar revelations come to light

Disgraced British cyclist David Millar has admitted using EPO in the build-up to his victory in the World Championships last year.

Millar won the world title in the time-trial with a near-faultless display in Hamilton, Canada.

But the 27-year-old revealed in his declaration to French judge Richard Pallain on July 1 that he had “cheated” by using the banned-blood booster in preparation for his victory.

Pallain is leading the investigation into drugs allegations against Millar’s team Cofidis.

Last month Millar was detained by French police for 48 hours for questioning and admitted taking EPO. Following this admission his home in Biarritz was searched and two empty syringes which had contained the banned substance were found.

During the hearing, Millar admitted that he used EPO on three separate occasions, once in 2001 and twice in 2003. He withdrew from the British Olympic team on July 2 following these admissions.

Millar’s declaration to Pallain was published in L’Équipe today.

“I took EPO when I was in Manchester and the two syringes found at my home were those I injected into myself while in Manchester,” he said.

“I had taken them back home not to forget that I had become world champion in Hamilton while being doped.

“I had always dreamed of becoming a world champion. I had reached that aim but I had cheated.

“I drugged myself because I was a prisoner of myself, of fame and money. I believe that those two syringes were the witnesses of how ashamed I felt to have used drugs.

“I am not proud to have drugged myself. I am not happy about it. I was a prisoner of the person I had become.”

During the hearing, Millar also claimed he had been introduced to EPO by a team-mate before the 2001 Tour of Spain (Vuelta de Espana), in which he won the prologue and stage six.

Millar blamed his decision to use EPO on the pressure of achieving in the sport, particularly after being made Cofidis team leader in 1999.

He said: “In 1999, I was very tired and I did not feel like cycling anymore. I started partying all the time during the summer and that’s when I broke my heel and was forced out for four months until the start of the year 2000.

“I had a lot of problems resuming training and I was not happy in my professional life.

“There was also the pressure from Cofidis and as the leader I knew I had to participate in the Tour de France. I resumed training, won the prologue (at the Poitiers Futuroscope) and I spent three great weeks.

“I took EPO because I knew that the Cofidis team was going to Spain for La Vuelta on the condition that I would do it and get a result. I could feel the pressure.

“As I was not happy in my personal life I had based everything on my sporting career. I felt people only saw me as a cyclist.

“After taking EPO for the 2001 Vuelta I was not well. I was a cheater. I had crossed the line and I did not feel good about it.

"I drugged myself up because my job was to be well-ranked. There were the magazines in England, the sports papers, the televisions who were expecting my good results, and I did not want to be criticised.”

Millar was today due to appear in front of Pallain, along with former Cofidis rider Philippe Gaumont, as the investigation continues. It was because of information from Gaumont that the investigation was launched in the first place.