November 28, 2006 – According to the French website Bluewin, renowned mountain biker, Thomas Frischknecht, is being confused for another Swiss cyclist with the same name, who is now awaiting extradition to the USA on drug trafficking charges.

The first Thomas Frischknecht (Swisspower), 36, won silver in mountain biking at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He also raced for the Swiss Olympic team in road racing that same year and has numerous titles to his credit.

The second Thomas Frischknecht, 27, is an amateur cyclist now in prison in Holland, accused of sending 9,200 ecstasy pills to the USA. His lawyer is currently appealing the extradition request.

Some European newspapers were confused by the two cyclists, and there were published accounts claiming the Swisspower Frischknecht was behind bars. The “real” Frischknecht is now suing and demanding published apologies.