Galimzyanov admits to taking EPO

Russian rider Denis Galimzyanov has published a hand-written open letter admitting that he knowingly took banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO).

The letter, published on Galimzyanov's Facebook page on Tuesday, came in reaction to Monday's announcement by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that he had failed an out-of-competition test for EPO on March 22, 2012.

Galimzyanov, 25, has stressed in his note that he acted without his Katusha team's knowledge and that he will not be requesting that his B sample be tested.

"I recognize a fact of banned substance usage," wrote Galimzyanov. "I fully realised what I did. I deeply regret about what happened, and I apologise to the whole team and my teammates, along with my fans whom I disappointed. I am ready to suffer an appropriate punishment."

"I would like to draw A PARTICULAR ATTENTION for that fact that Katusha Team has nothing to do with what happened," he continued. "No team member knew and could know about what I did. It was my personal decision and my responsibility. I refuse from my right to request and attend the analysis of my B sample."

Galimzyanov will now face a two-year suspension from competition and will likely be sacked from the Katusha team.

In March, Katusha re-signed Russian rider Alexandr Kolobnev after he had been cleared of wrong-doing after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide at the 2011 Tour de France.

Related links

Galimzyanov tests positive for EPO

Kolobnev offered new contract with Katusha