Tour de France winner Ullrich admitted to psychiatric hospital
Germany’s Tour de de France champion Jan Ullrich was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after his brief detention for allegedly assaulting a prostitute.
The 44-year- old former cycling star was earlier Friday released on bail pending an investigation for possible attempted manslaughter.
But once free, Ullrich suffered a panic attack, reported the DPA news agency.
“Jan Ullrich was admitted to a psychiatric hospital on Friday night where his state of health is being assessed by specialists,” a Frankfurt police spokesperson told AFP on Saturday.
“Due to his mental and physical state there was no other choice” but to transport him to a psychiatric unit by ambulance, the spokesperson said.
Friday’s incidents arose after the 1997 Tour de France champion had called on the services of a prostitute at the five-star Villa Kennedy Hotel in Frankfurt, Bild daily reported.
But he then “attac ked the 31-year-old escort lady in one of the hotel rooms after a dispute,” prosecutors and police said in a joint statement.
He put up a struggle as officers arrived to detain him, they said, noting that “the accused was likely under the influence of alcohol and drugs”.
“The accused is under investigation for attempted manslaughter and grievous bodily harm. Investigations are not over,” they said,
adding that the woman has given “extensive de tails on the attacks” while Ullrich has exerted his right to remain silent.
Ullrich’s run-in with the law came just a week after his 24-hour detention in Spain, where he had sought to force his way into the Mallorca home of his neighbor, German actor Til Schweiger, and threatened him.