PARIS, July 21 (UPI) -- Scottish cyclist David Millar has ended his career with public admissions he regularly used a banned drug to enhance red cells in the blood.
The French newspaper L'Equipe published extensive extracts of the statements the rider gave police when he was taken into custody at the beginning of this month.
It was the discovery by French police of two syringes containing erythropoietin, known as EPO, which Millar had used in the run-up to last year's world championship, that led to his imprisonment and subsequent confession.
"After taking EPO for the 2001 Vuelta (in Spain) I was not well. I was a cheater," his statement said. "I had crossed the line and I did not feel good about it. I drugged myself up because my job was to be well-ranked."
Britain's most successful male cyclist of his generation, Millar took a silver medal in the World Championships time trial event, held in October, in 2001, and a gold in 2003. He also won the prologue and a stage of the Tour of Spain in September 2001, but his statements will cost Millar his world titles.
