The unexpected cancellation yesterday was replaced by a one-hour special report on doping on sports.
Germany’s T-Mobile rider tested positive for a banned substance and ZDF editor in chief, Nikolaus Brender said the tour will “get the red card” if Brender fails a second doping test.
"It is a major blow. We have to think very hard about our sponsoring agreements," T-Mobile spokesman Christian Frommert said about Sinkewitz’s results and the TV ban. "We are dismayed, disappointed and shocked (at Sinkewitz's test result). There are hard days ahead."
Cable channel Eurosport will continue coverage in Germany, but the public cut-off is likely to be detrimental to the Tour’s German ratings and its sponsors.
ARD and ZDF included an anti-doping clause into all sports contacts last year, following previous Tour de France scandals. Brender commented that cancelling broadcasting of the tour was the only way to “clear the decks” and put pressure to stop the doping problem in cycling.
