One-time Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich on Wednesday denied that he is being investigated in Spain as part of the Spanish doping probe dubbed Operación Puerto. Ullrich was fired by his T-Mobile team this year after being barred from competing in the Tour de France after Spanish investigators offered evidence which suggested he was involved in doping.

The 32-year-old is said to have been given the blood-boosting drug EPO, human growth hormone, steroids and blood transfusions by Madrid-based physician Eufemio Fuentes, the apparent head of a doping ring, but denies knowing him.

"Jan Ullrich is not being investigated in Spain. The judge responsible has made that clear with the decision released on October 4 2006," read the statement on Ullrich's homepage www.janullrich.de

"It says that the German is not accused in the so-called Operación Puerto and no measures are being taken against him."

Switzerland-based Ullrich recently split with the Swiss cycling federation but the Austrian cycling federation is prepared to help the 1997 Tour de France winner by offering him a professional license if he moves to Austria.

"If Jan moves to Austria I'll give him a professional license," said Austrian federation director Rudolf Massat. "Professional cyclists are not saints but each has to be treated fairly. Up until now all that has been said (on Jan Ullrich) has been just speculation."

Ullrich is also reported to be in contact with an Italian cycling team.