Jan Ullrich has admitted that he took part in blood doping during his career as a professional cyclist.

The winner of the 1997 Tour de France was stripped of all results from 2005 onwards after being linked to doping in 2006, but had always denied any wrongdoing.

However, the German told Focus Magazine: "Yes, I availed of [Dr Eufemianio] Fuentes's treatments. The subject is history for me. I want to look forward and never back.

"Almost everyone at the time was taking performance-enhancing substances. I have taken nothing that was not taken by the others. It is only cheating for me if I get an advantage which was not the case. I just wanted to ensure I had an equal opportunity.

"I always knew Lance Armstrong would not get away with it, even if he was probably for years protected by one or the other institutions and the world governing body. Neither of us thought we were guilty of anything. I'm not better than Armstrong but no worse. The great heroes of the past are today people with flaws with which we must cope."

Ullrich finished second at Le Tour on five occasions, three times losing out to Armstrong, who admitted using performance-enhancing substances during his career earlier this year.