Dope worry for 10 TDF cyclists

2008-07-11 16:11

Aurillac - The agency charged with carrying out anti-doping controls at this year's Tour de France has played down a report that 10 riders are about to be issued warnings for "suspect" blood samples.

A report in Le Monde newspaper suggested that the riders were being specifically targeted by the AFLD, France's national anti-doping agency, because of suspected doping.

However a statement by the AFLD, issued on Friday, poured cold water on the claims.

The AFLD said it had merely informed the doctors at the teams concerned that some riders "risked health problems" due to deficiencies relating to certain biological parameters.

"The blood samples taken from the entire Tour de France peloton on July 3 and 4 have been analysed by the anti-doping laboratory in Lausanne, which is accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cycling Union (UCI)," said the statement issued on the AFLD website.

'Hand over results'

"In accordance with current rules, the results of these analyses will be handed over to the riders this weekend.

"This in no way suggests that the riders concerned have been given a warning. However, for medical reasons and because of values of certain parameters, it will be suggested to those riders that they hand over the results to their team doctors."

A report on Friday by Le Monde, which rarely reports on cycling unless doping is involved, claimed the AFLD was about to issue "warnings" to the riders.

The report said that their blood test results revealed "quite worrying" parameters, which would lead to further, "targeted" tests.

So far in this year's race, there have been no doping scandals. The race finishes on July 27 and has yet to reach the mountains, the first real stage of which is on Sunday.

Former champion withdraws

The second day of climbing on the Tour proved too much for former French champion Christophe Moreau, who abandoned during the seventh stage on Friday.

Moreau pulled over to the side at the feeding station, near the 85th kilometre of the 159km stage after failing to keep pace with a chasing peloton's acceleration.

The 2007 French champion, who finished fourth overall on the Tour in 2001, was in 42nd place overall at nearly six minutes behind overnight leader Kim Kirchen when he decided to call it a day.

- AFP