T-Mobile pull sponsorship with immediate effect

German telecommunications giant ends it's sponsorship deal after more than a decade in the pro peloton

Linus Gerdemann (stage winner)
(Image credit: ISOSPORT)

It has just been announced that Deutsche Telekom is to end its sponsorship of the T-Mobile cycling team. The decision had been pending for several weeks after further doping revelations came to light.

The telecommunications company has released the following statement:

"We arrived at this decision to separate our brand from further exposure from doping in sport and cycling specifically. This was a difficult decision given our long history of support for professional cycling and the efforts of Bob Stapleton in managing the team in 2007", said Deutsche Telekom Board member and CEO of T-Mobile International Hamid Akhavan. ?We have an obligation to our employees, customers and shareholders to focus our attention and resources on our core businesses?, added Akhavan.

"We have worked very hard with the current team management to promote a clean cycling sport but we reached the decision to continue our efforts to rid all sports of doping by applying our resources in other directions. Deutsche Telekom AG wants to make it clear that this action is not based on any disagreement with or misconduct by team management?, Akhavan emphasized.

Nothing has changed in Deutsche Telekom's belief that sponsoring activities also entail taking responsibility. "We will continue to fulfill our obligations to the fight against doping, to which we contribute a significant amount of resources", declared Akhavan.

Bob Stapleton added, "We hope to go forward independently with the team to achieve our goals of continued competitive success and being a leader in anti-doping efforts in professional cycling."

Over the past few days the Group has been negotiating with Neuer Straßen Sport, the operator of the T-Mobile Team, for the termination of the contract that was set to run until December 31, 2010. Both parties have agreed to keep the details confidential.

T-MOBILE: A RECENT HISTORY

6/11/2007: Stapleton confident that T-Mobile will stay with team

9/10/2007: T-Mobile end season early

9/8/2007: T-Mobile confirm continuing sponsorship

31/7/2007: T-Mobile release Sinkewitz from contract

19/6/2007: T-Mobile release Honchar after doping tests

24/5/2007: Zabel and Aldag confess to doping

27/9/2006: T-Mobile reveal major changes for 2007 team

21/7/2006: T-Mobile sack Ullrich and Sevilla

RELATED LINKS

Comment: The beginning of the end?

T-Mobile's highs and lows

Wiggins stunned by T-Mobile decision

High Road Sports vows to carry on

Giant stick with Team High Road

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Simon Richardson
Magazine editor

Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.