COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 25 (UPI) -- Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis admitted to illegal doping during his career, including during his 1996 Tour de France victory.
Riis appeared in a televised interview in Denmark saying he's used erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production allowing for increase oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. The hormone is commonly known as EPO.
The cyclist said he used the substance from 1993-1998. He is the first Tour de France winner to admit to doping and said he no longer considered himself worthy the title he won in 1996.
"I have taken EPO. I have made errors and I would like to apologize," Riis said in the interview.
In a statement through cycling Team CSC, which he manages, Riis said in the 1990s he worked hard to be among the sport's elite.
"That also means that I did some things I shouldn't have and I have regretted that ever since," the statement read.
Riis's admissions come after former teammates Eric Zabel and Rolf Aldag, German support riders for Riis in the 1990s, said they participated in illegal doping.
