Sydney, Feb 1 : Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, who was kicked out of the 2007 Tour de France when he was wearing the race leader''s yellow jersey ahead of Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans, has confessed to doping for 12 years.

Rasmussen claimed he has been working together with authorities, including the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), about his drug links and cheating past, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. In a press conference, Rasmussen, who sat alongside his existing team sponsors, Christina and Claus Hembo of Christina Watches-Onfone, also announced that he was quitting the sport immediately.

Rasmussen said he knows he cheated and lied and cheated other riders, adding he will accept his punishment. The Dane said he had given extensive details to Danish and Dutch authorities, USADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in a series of secret interviews in Amsterdam and Copenhagen during the past fortnight, the paper reported.

The revelations come just weeks after seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was stripped of his titles. Rasmussen, 38, who was thrown off the 2007 Tour de France for failing to reveal his whereabouts to drug testers before the month-long race, ticked off a cocktail of drugs he used from 1998-2010.

Rasmussen revealed he used EPO, cortisone, insulin, human growth hormone and blood transfusions, adding he has told the anti-doping authorities all of this. The former cyclist added when he get up and leaves then he would do so as a very relieved man, as he no longer would have to carry a heavy burden, like he has done for the last several years.

Rasmussen said he is happy that he doesn't have to sit and lie to anyone anymore when they ask about his past. (ANI)