Former Tour de France king of the mountains considering appeal
Michael Rasmussen’s attempt to increase the €700,000 euro damages awarded to him in 2008 has backfired, with the former professional rider losing in his claim for €5 million today.
Rasmussen, who was removed from the 2007 Tour de France while leading the race, had claimed that the team was fully aware that he was training in Italy prior to the race rather than being in Mexico, as he had declared at the time.
He argued that because the team itself knew of his location, that it acted incorrectly in responding to pressure and costing him what looked to be an almost-certain victory in the Tour.
Initially being awarded that €700,000 sum in 2008, he felt the amount given was unsufficient to compensate him for what he had lost, and sought more via an appeal.
On June 19th 2012 it was reported that the court in Arnhem, the Netherlands, had failed to reach a decision. Today’s ruling is a continuation of that. According to De Telegraaf, the court in Arnhem has decided that he must repay €579,000 to Rabobank, plus damages of €84,000.
The ruling said that the court accepted Rabobank’s actions during that Tour.
“We don’t know all the details, the ruling is 50 pages,” Rasmussen’s attorney Andre Brantjes told Ekstra Bladet, adding that his client was ‘shocked’ at the outcome. “Now we will study it and see if there is a possibility to appeal.”
In January of this year Rasmussen confirmed after many years of denial that he did indeed use a variety of banned substances for most of his career.
“I have availed myself of doping substances and methods in the period 1998-2010, namely EPO, growth hormone, testosterone, DHEA, insulin, IGF-1, cortisone and blood transfusions,” he said then, confirming that he was retiring with immediate effect due to a two year ban.
He had been racing with the Christina Watches team and was told that he would be given alternative employment by the title sponsor’s company. He intends to return as a directeur sportif when his suspension is finished.