Cycling: Gaumont admits using and distributing EPO
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.A second cyclist from Cofidis, the team Britain's leading rider, David Millar, rides for, has now admitted to using the performance-enhancing drug EPO.
Already implicated in doping affairs in the past, the French rider Philippe Gaumont confessed yesterday to using EPO. He has also said he gave the same drug to another, as yet unspecified, rider.
With Gaumont currently under investigation by French police for providing illegal drugs to other professional riders, his lawyer, Oliver Combe, said that the rider "has admitted to doping and has also explained some unfortunate things that are happening in cycling".
Gaumont was arrested and later released last week with his team-mate Cedric Vasseur as part of a continuing investigation into a drugs ring which first made the news when a former rider for Cofidis, the Pole Marek Rutkiewicz, was arrested at Orly airport carrying suspicious substances.
A masseur from Cofidis, Bogdan Madejak, was then detained as the suspected head of the drugs ring. Another former Confidis rider, Robert Sassone, confessed to using EPO after police searched his house in South-east France.
Police have stated that neither Millar nor his fellow world champion Igor Astarloa, who also rides for Cofidis, are involved in the affair.
Alasdair Fotheringham writes for Cycling Weekly
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments