Cyclist Graeme Obree agrees with footballer Philipp Lahm; both say gay athletes are better off in the closet.

In his new memoir A Subtle Difference, Lahm, the captain of Germany's Bayern Munich football team, denied rumors he's gay and advised gay footballers against coming out.

“I would not advise any gay professional footballer to come out.”

“I would fear that he could end up like Justin Fashanu who after he outed himself was driven into such a corner that he ended up committing suicide,” the 27-year-old Lahm added, referring to the first professional player in Britain to come out during his career. In 1998, while living in Maryland, he was accused of sexual assault and later committed suicide.

On Tuesday, Scottish cyclist Obree, who is openly gay, agreed in comments with The Scottish Sun.

“I don't think being gay and an active sportsman is a good thing,” Obree, 45, said.

He added that he knows footballers who are gay: “There are SPL footballers who are gay, I know that for a fact.”

“But if I was in their position there is no way I would come out. It would be too awkward in the dressing room. You need to be retired first. Even now I wouldn't do coaching because it's still an awkward situation.”

Obree, who after twice breaking the world hour record was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, came out in January. But he said two attempts at suicide were linked to his sexuality.

“I was brought up thinking you'd be better dead than gay,” he said.