Sep 15, 2006, 16:25 GMT
Berlin - Tour de France former champion Jan Ullrich has broken off his honeymoon following a search of his home as part of an investigation by German authorities linked to a doping probe.
Ullrich said on his website Friday he and his wife Sara were 'deeply hurt by the raid' in which authorities secured samples of former the cyclist's DNA.
'In view of the events we have broken off our honeymoon and have returned home,' he said.
Ullrich said his lawyer had been instructed to discuss the case with German prosecuting authorities in Bonn.
DNA of the 1997 Tour de France winner was secured in the raid on his Swiss residence in Scherzingen.
Authorities now plan to compare the DNA with frozen blood seized at a Madrid clinic as part of a doping investigation that forced Ullrich and eight other riders to withdraw from this year's Tour.
German and Swiss authorities searched several premises Wednesday as part of a fraud investigation by German authorities linked to the doping affair surrounding Spanish sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. The home of Ullrich's manager Wolfgang Strohband was among those searched.
Ullrich, who has been dismissed by his team, T-Mobile, has denied allegations of doping but has declined to provide a DNA sample.
Fuentes is currently under investigation after Spanish police arrested five people at a Madrid clinic in May, where drugs and frozen blood were seized.
The German investigation follows charges brought by Bielefeld criminology professor Britta Bannenberg, a former athlete, who alleges team T-Mobile was defrauded by Ullrich and others.
Meanwhile Olympic gold medallist Tyler Hamilton is to be investigated for alleged links to the Spanish doping scandal.
USA Cycling said it had been contacted by the International Cycling Union (UCI) regarding American Hamilton's alleged involvement.
Chief executive Steve Johnson said: 'We have forwarded the dossier to the US Anti-Doping Agency and asked them to adjudicate this case on our behalf.'
The former Phonak rider has repeatedly denied taking performance-enhancing drugs.
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