A doctor linked to Nairo Quintana is due to stand trial over allegations he was involved in practices contrary to anti doping rules following a search at the Arkéa-Samsic team hotel during the 2020 Tour de France.
Quintana, who was riding the 2020 Tour for the French team, has pointed out no doping products were discovered during the searches, that he faces no allegations and insists he has done nothing wrong.
The doctor in question, Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres, was brought on the Tour by Arkéa-Samsic after its own doctor was ill with Covid-19.
Reports in France now state Gonzales Torres is due to go on trial in Marseille in September. The Colombian physician faces allegations of "possessing a substance or method that is prohibited for a sporting use without medical justification".
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The maximum penalties for such a charge, if the accused person is convicted, are five years imprisonment and a fine of up to €75,000. However, the allegations are not proven and the scheduled court case will determine the innocence or guilt of Gonzales Torres.
News of the court case emerges as Quintana is due to resume his World Tour career with Movistar Team after being out of contract last year following his Tramadol-related disqualification from the Tour in 2022.
The searches on the 2020 Tour were carried out after stage 17, though news of the police operation only emerged after the race had concluded. The French media reported police were conducting a preliminary investigation into suspicions concerning a small part of the team.
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Marseille prosecutor’s office in a statement at the time referred to the “discovery of many health products including drugs” and “especially a method that could be qualified as doping”.
The inquiry, at the time, appeared to be focused on the suspected administration of prescription medicines to a rider, or small number of riders, in alleged dubious circumstances.
Two people were questioned at the time after stage 17 to the Col de la Loze when police visited the team hotel and searched rooms and vehicles. However, the team denied those people were employees.
The UCI said at the time 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.
Arkéa Samsic issued a statement, with general manager Emmanuel Hubert saying he was keen to respond to the information that had been reported in the media at the time.
“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.
“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."
