Tour 'dope cheat' arrested

2007-07-25 19:40

Col D'Aubisque - Italian cyclist Cristian Moreni, who tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone, has been arrested by French police, witnesses told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Cofidis rider, who failed a dope test after the 11th stage of the Tour de France from Marseille to Montpellier, was arrested shortly after the end of the 16th stage at the Col d'Aubisque.

The hotel of the Cofidis team in Lescar was also raided by police, a witness added.

Earlier AP reported the 34-year-old Moreni - who started the stage on Wednesday over an hour adrift of overall leader Michael Rasmussen - failed the test following last Thursday's stage between Marseille and Montpellier.

His Cofidis team manager Eric Boyer was left a little non-plussed.

"I am going to listen to what Moreni has to say," said Boyer, who has been one of the leaders in the fight against doping in the sport since taking over the reins at Cofidis in June 2005 and hired Moreni at the end of that year.

"I want to hear his explanation for this and then we will decide what we are going to do."

Eight riders were tested after the stage: Robert Hunter (stage winner), Michael Rasmussen (yellow jersey leader), Maxim Iglinskiy, Erik Zabel, Lilian Jegou, Moreni, Kim Kirchen and Patxi Vila.

The news comes 24 hours after Astana team leader Alexandre Vinokourov was forced to pull out of the race after failing a test for blood doping after his win in Saturday's time trial stage in Albi - his team also later withdrew at the request of the race organisers.

Boyer, though, did not know whether his team would follow their example.

"For the moment, I don't know, I know nothing."

- Reuters