Arkéa Samsic has tonight issued a statement about the anti doping searches it was subjected to by the French police on the Tour de France last week.
While the searches were carried out after stage 17, news of the police operation only emerged today, after the conclusion of the race, in the French media.
The French police
are conducting a preliminary investigation into suspicions concerning a small
part of the team.
Marseille prosecutor's office in a statement referred to the "discovery of many health products including drugs" and "especially a method that could be qualified as doping”.
Reports also stated that "100ml of saline and injection equipment" was found and that Nairo Quintana was spoken to after the searches.
The inquiry appears to be focused on the suspected administration of prescription medicines to a rider, or small number of riders, in alleged dubious circumstances.
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However, while two people linked the team were said to have been taken into preliminary custody, the inquiry is at a preliminary stage and no findings of wrongdoing against anyone have been arrived at.
The inquiry is
also focused on a very small number of people linked to the team; something the
ProContinental squad stressed in its statement late on Monday night.
The search took
place after stage 17 to the Col de la Loze when police visited the team hotel and searched rooms and vehicles.
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The UCI said it would take “appropriate” measures if it received information necessitating action. It said the investigative activity had taken place on the “sidelines” of the Tour.
“The UCI
welcomes and supports the action of all parties involved and will take the
appropriate measures once it has taken note of the information obtained by the French legal authorities," the world governing body said.
Arkéa Samsic issued a statement saying, in full:
Emmanuel Hubert, General Manager of the Arkea Samsic team, is keen to react following the information currently being relayed in the media, on alleged doping suspicions which affect his team.
“A search did take place last week in our hotel, as I have already confirmed to various media. It concerned only a very limited number of riders, as well as their close entourage, not employed by the team.
The team, its general manager as well as its staff, currently quoted in the media, are absolutely not questioned and consequently are not kept informed of any element from near or far, relating to the progress of the investigation, which I remind you that it does not target the team or its staff directly. "
Emmanuel Hubert would also like to point out that:
“We obviously support our riders, but if it turns out that at the end of the current investigation, the elements confirm the veracity of doping practices, the team would immediately dissociate itself from such acts and take without wait for the necessary measures to put an end to the links which could unite them with unacceptable and always opposed methods.
"Indeed, the member team of the MPCC, movement for credible cycling, has always over the past 20 years demonstrated its commitment to ethics and taken a stand in favor of the fight against doping. "
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