Ace firm in drug denial

Rider denies doping as police hold team members

THE leader of a Tour de France team caught up in a doping investigation said he had “nothing to hide” after two unnamed members of the French outfit were detained.

Colombian rider Nairo Quintana, 30, leader of the Arkea-Samsic team and winner of the 2014 Giro d’Italia, said no drugs were discovered during thei nvestigation.

“No doping substance has ever been found ,” he said late on Tuesday.

“I have nothing to hide and have never had anything to hide,” Quintana added.

Police detained two people from the Arkea-Samsic team on Monday. French daily Le Parisien reported that they were a doctor and physiotherapist.

A source said searches had targeted several riders including Quintana’s brother Dayer, as well as members of the medical team. It is the most sign ificant investigation in years for the repeatedly scandal-hit Tour, which wrapped upon Sunday in Paris with a surprise victory for 21- year-old debut ant Tadej Pogacar, the youngest winner in more than a century.

One major probe was in 1998, when customs officials stopped a vehicle laden with doping products and the Festina team was thrown off the race as the pelot on headed into Paris.

US star rider Lance Armstrong, who won from 1999-2005, admitted doping in 2013 and was stripped of his seven titles.

Prosecutor Dominique Laurens, in the southern city of Marseil le, said the current investigation was targeting a “small part” of Ark ea-Sam sic.

He said the two detained had “many health products including drugs in their personal belongings, but also and above all a method that can be qualified as do ping ”.