CYCLING: I'M ACHEAT; Disgraced Scot Millar admits he injected drugs in lead-up to becoming world champ.Byline: By Greig Thomas SCOTS cyclist David Millar David Millar (born January 4, 1977 in Malta) is a Scottish road racing cyclist, currently racing for UCI ProTeam Saunier Duval-Prodir as a time-trial specialist.[1] In 2008 he will be riding for Team Slipstream, and will become a part-owner. has branded himself acheat after he admitted taking drugs in the build-up to last year's World Championships victory. Millar took the world title in the time-trial in Hamilton, Canada, but that triumph will now be viewed with disgust after his admission of guilt admission of guilt n. a statement by someone accused of a crime that he/she committed the offense. If the admission is made outside court to a police officer it may be introduced as evidence if the defendant was given the proper warnings as to his/her rights . The disgraced star insists he was placed under intolerable pressure to succeed by his team Cofidis and felt the only solution was to turn to banned substances. The 27-year-old told French judge Richard Pallain - who is leading the investigation into drugs allegations against Cofidis - on July 1 that he had 'cheated' by using EPO EPO see erythropoietin. EPO Erythropoietin, see there in preparation for his victory. Last month Millar was held by French police for 48 hours for questioning and admitted taking the banned blood booster. His home in Biarritz was searched and two syringes which contained traces of the illegal substance were found. During the hearing, Millar admitted he used EPO on three separate occasions, once in 2001 and twice in 2003. Millar's declaration to Pallain was published in yesterday's L'Equipe - a French sports paper. He said: 'I took EPO when I was in Manchester and the two syringes found at my home were those I injected while in Manchester. 'I had become world champ World Champ is a boxing game created by Visco for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was first released in Japan under the name Great Boxing: Rush Up, and was later published in the US by Romstar. The gameplay is very similar to Ring King, another NES boxing game. in Hamilton while being doped dope n. 1. Informal a. A narcotic, especially an addictive narcotic. b. Narcotics considered as a group. c. An illicit drug, especially marijuana. 2. . 'I had always dreamt of becoming a world champion. I'd reached that aim but I had cheated. 'I had to drug myself because I was a prisoner of myself, of fame and money. 'I believe 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 2001Tour of Spain - - where he won the prologue pro·logue also pro·log n. 1. An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play. 2. An introduction or introductory chapter, as to a novel. 3. An introductory act, event, or period. and sixth stage. Millar blamed his decision to use EPO on the pressure of achieving,particularly after being made Cofidis team leader in1999. Hesaid:'In1999 I was very tired and I did not feel like cycling any more. 'I started partying all the time during the summer and that's when I broke my heel and was forced out for four months. 'I had a lot of problems resuming training and I was not happy in my professional life. 'There was also the pressure from Cofidis. I felt as the leader I had to participate in the Tour de France. 'I resumed training, won the Poitiers Futuroscope prologue and I enjoyed three great weeks. 'I took EPO because I knew the Cofidis team was going to Spain on the condition 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 sawme as a cyclist. '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 and the TV who were expecting good results. I didn't want to be criticised.' CAPTION(S): PAIN GAIN: David Millar is wracked with guilt after his cheat admission |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion