Three-time Dutch road race champion Michael Boogerd has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during the last 10 years of his professional cycling career.
In doing so, he becomes the eighth member of the former Rabobank team to come forward about the doping culture that was prevalent during his time in the sport.
Boogerd admitted using erythropoietin and cortisone while riding between 1997 and 2007, while also revealing that he flew to Austria for blood transfusions.
He apologised for not speaking out about the widespread use of drugs in cycling, but refused to incriminate other riders.
"The period I used banned substances was from 1997 to 2007, the end of my career," the 40-year-old told Dutch TV station NOS.
"I'm sorry I kept the [doping] culture alive. I'm sorry I never put up my hand and publicly said, 'This can't go on. It's not good'. And I'm sorry I wasn't riding in another era.
"I'm not naming people. It was my responsibility, my choice."
Rabobank pulled their sponsorship from cycling citing concerns regarding doping.
Michael Penkman
