The management board of Deutsche Telekom has elected to end sponsorship of professional cycling with immediate effect. Sponsorship of both the men's and women's teams is ended with this action.The operator has been a sponsor of professional cycling since 1991, first under the Telekom brand and later using the T-Mobile brand. CEO of T-Mobile International Hamid Akhavan said that the board did arrive at this decision to separate the Telekom brand from further exposure from doping in sport and cycling specifically, after long deliberations given the long history of support for professional cycling and the efforts of Bob Stapleton in managing the team in 2007. Over the past few days the Group has been negotiating with Neuer Straßen Sport, the operator of the T-Mobile Team, for the termination of the contract that was set to run until 31 December 2010. Both parties have agreed to keep the details confidential.
