Michael Barry, Tour de Suisse 2012, stage five
Former Team Sky rider Michael Barry has joined George Hincapie in admitting to doping during his time at the US Postal team with Lance Armstrong.
In a statement issued on Wednesday just after the United States Anti-Doping Agency published a summary of the evidence collected in its investigation into doping at US Postal, Barry said: "Cycling has always been a part of my life. As a boy my dream was to become a professional cyclist who raced at the highest level in Europe. I achieved my goal when I first signed a contract with the United States Postal Service Cycling team in 2002. Soon after I realised reality was not what I had dreamed. Doping had become an epidemic problem in professional cycling."
"I crossed a line I promised myself and others I would not: I doped. It was a decision I deeply regret. It caused me sleepless nights, took the fun out of cycling and racing, and tainted the success I achieved at the time. This was not how I wanted to live or race."
The Canadian was one of 11 former team-mates of Armstrong that gave evidence to USADA during its investigation.
Barry announced his retirement from professional cycling on September 9 via the Team Sky website. He cited that it was time to "change direction to spend more time with my family." Now, he faces possible sanctions after admitting to doping during his career.
"I apologise to those I deceived," said Barry in his statement. "I will accept my suspension and any other consequences. I will work hard to regain people's trust."
Like Hincapie, Barry said that he stopped doping after the summer of 2006 - his final year at US Postal before joining T-Mobile in 2007, and then Sky in 2010. There is no suggestion that Barry doped at either T-Mobile or Sky.
Related links
Hincapie admits to doping during career
USADA publishes details of Armstrong doping case file
Reader comments
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Steve Colinese
October 10 19:01
I'm very sad to read this story-but also very confused. I'm reading "Sky's The Limit" at the moment, and it talks about checking riders' biological passports and their data history as part of the recruitment process. I heard on Sky News tonight that Michael Barry says he last doped in 2006. Team Sky signed him in 2009-only three yeras later. How didn't any of this show up then? I'm about to cut up my Livestrong yellow wrist band...
barry
October 10 19:28
Re Michael Barry "I crossed a line I promised myself and others I would not: I doped. It was a decision I deeply regret. It caused me sleepless nights, took the fun out of cycling and racing, and tainted the success I achieved at the time. This was not how I wanted to live or race." bit differant to this in 2010 It’s about the feeling of elation when I finish a race and to be able to sleep well at night.” Barry said he will sleep well despite Landis’ allegations. With the sacking of a doping Doctor yesterday and another Doctor involved in a doping scandal in Italy, and some members of staff with doping skeletons in the cupboard seems Team Sky's image is on the wane !!!!
steve clarke
October 10 21:40
What doe's this say about Team Sky??? What are the UCI saying about all these confessions???? Where does this leave OUR sport in the eyes of the public????? ANOTHER very BAD day for cycling..... I'm pretty pissed off!!!!
Teddy
October 11 12:55
Sean Yates.....anything to say....?????
harry d
October 11 17:28
After a brilliant summer of cycling, doping once again comes to be the subject that's in the media forefront . This is going to take ages to clear up and the repercutions will go on for decades , and has left cyclists once again to look like the sport that condones drug abuse , lies and cheating within the professional teams .We had hoped it was all left behind us .Lets hope that the coming season is CLEAN and no riders are found positive of ANY ABUSE .
Ken Evans
October 11 17:53
"....a brilliant summer of cycling..." Vino won the Olympic road race !
milton
October 11 18:15
just what is steve clarke implying about teah sky ?
Cliff
October 11 21:39
... and David Millar rode in the British team
Marcello Belondo
October 17 03:31
The very unfortunate result could have been avoided if the Kazakhs, like the Italians, barred all previously convicted riders from ever again participating on the national team. That's my favorite rule in all of sports.