STUTTGART, Germany (AP) A German court has cleared cyclist Stefan Schumacher of defrauding his former team boss by denying taking drugs at the 2008 Tour de France.
The state court in Stuttgart ruled Tuesday that Schumacher didn't defraud Gerolsteiner team chief Hans-Michael Holczer out of three months' wages, news agency dpa reported. Prosecutors had sought a 16,800 euro ($23,200) fine.
The fraud charges stemmed from Schumacher's denial that he took drugs during the 2008 Tour. He won both Tour time trials but was caught two months later by a new test and stripped of the wins.
Schumacher served a two-year ban after his samples showed traces of the blood-boosting hormone CERA.
Schumacher argued that Holczer must have been aware of doping in his team. Holczer has denied those claims.
