1997 Tour winner sacked by team

Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France winner, has been sacked by his T-Mobile team.

Ullrich, 32, was withdrawn from this year's Tour by his team before it started when he was linked by the media to an investigation in Spain into alleged blood-doping.

Ullrich announced his dismissal on his personal website www.janullrich.de and has vowed to take legal action.

"The sacking by T-Mobile is not acceptable for me," Ullrich told the website. "I am very disappointed that I was not informed personally of this decision but only by fax.

"I find it shameful that we have worked so well together for so many years and then after all I have done for the team that I have been treated like a fax number."

Ullrich's manager Wolfgang Strohband said on the website that his client has contacted lawyer Ulrich Theune over the dismissal.

The rider has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.