Jan Ullrich: 'The problems started when I could not see my kids, I exploded'

'I broke some TVs and I pulled the punching ball from the ceiling. To calm down, I took cocaine and amphetamines,' says Ullrich who is now allowed to speak to his children

Jan Ullrich outside court in 2015 (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

(Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Former German champion Jan Ullrich is recovering in rehabilitation in Frankfurt to cure alcohol and drug problems, saying that he "exploded" when he could not see his children following troubles with his ex-wife.

Ullrich won the 1997 Tour de France. His career was tarnished later by doping scandals. Lately, he has had trouble with alcohol and drugs, leading to two separate alleged physical attacks in August - one of which resulted in a restraining order being issued.

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