Cycling: TVM riders questioned by police
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FALL-OUT FROM the Tour de France, which ended on Sunday, continued yesterday as a French judge placed a TVM masseur under formal investigation and police questioned 14 of the Dutch team's riders and officials as the probe into doping gathered momentum.
Johannes Moors was detained on suspicion of possessing harmful substances and breaking France's anti-doping and customs laws. TVM's director, Cees Priem, and doctor, Andrei Mikhailov, were placed in custody last week for the same reason.
Reims police are questioning six riders from the TVM team - Jeroen Blijlevens, Steven De Jongh, Servais Knaven, Bart Voskamp, Sergei Ivanov and Sergei Outschankov. Jan Van Het Hoge, the team's cook, said the riders "are all very at ease and don't think they will be put under official examination because they are innocent. I hope we can go back to the Netherlands quickly."
Riders from the Casino and ONCE teams are also expected to be called in for questioning, judicial sources said.
Under the current doping law in France, riders are not prosecuted unless they have contributed to a fund for the purchase of performance-enhancing drugs, or sell them to other riders.
Tour of shame, page 20
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments