Tour de France hopeful Andreas Klöden said Wednesday that he was weary of trying to clear his name as other members of his Astana team are suspected of doping.

"I have nothing to confess," Klöden told German daily Die Welt. "You have to believe me when I say that I have never done anything illegal."

On Wednesday, Klöden signed the UCI’s anti-doping pledge, but admitted that he wasn’t happpy about it.

"I didn't have a choice in order to compete in the Tour de France ... but I felt violated by this procedure. I no longer enjoy competing in the Tour de France. It's like a suspended sentence."

Klöden added that he could quit this year's race if the doping issue became too heavy.

"I don't feel like talking about doping after the stages while my job on the bike is already hard enough as it is,” he said.

The 32-year-old German, who was second during the 2004 edition of the Tour and third last year, said hard work made him one of the best riders in the world. He also denied ever taking drugs, whether at Telekom/T-Mobile or with Astana.

"Since I was 11, I was always the best in my age category,” said Klöden. “I worked really hard, I did not become a good rider overnight.

"I continually progressed, step by step, without resorting to drugs and despite all that I'm still subject to suspicion, I'm pigeonholed with all the cheaters, and it is annoying."

Klöden's teammates Eddy Mazzoleni of Italy and German Matthias Kessler are under suspicion, and Mazzoleni was dropped from the nine-man Tour team.

"Concerning Mazzoleni, the facts date back to before he joined Astana, in 2004 when he was riding for Saeco, whereas Kessler shows an abnormal level of testosterone that even an anti-doping specialist like Wener Franke finds beyond understanding," said Klöden.