Cofidis rider arrested

MACON, France – Tour de France team Cofidis has suspended Frenchman Remy Di Gregorio over doping allegations, the team announced on the race’s first rest day Tuesday.

Di Gregorio, 26, was arrested following a police raid at his team’s hotel in Bourg-en-Bresse, several miles outside Macon in eastern France where the race will resume for the 10th stage Wednesday.

A team statement said: “We have just learned that one of our riders, competing at the Tour de France, may have attempted to resort to doping substances to improve his performance.

“At the current time, we have very little information about the facts of the case.

“However the suspicion on the rider concerned, Remy di Gregorio, leaves us with no choice but to hand down the strictest possible sanctions.

“Remy di Gregorio is therefore immediately suspended, provisionally, while we await more ample information on the case.

“If the suspicions are confirmed, he will be sacked on the spot – in accordance with the stipulations in his contract and in line with the ethical policy of the team.”

It is not the first time one or several riders from Cofidis have been embroiled in a doping affair.

Several riders including Briton David Millar and Frenchman Phillipe Gaumont were implicated in a damaging doping affair in 2004, leading to radical changes at management level.

Three years later, under pressure from organizers, the team voluntarily left the 2007 Tour when Italian rider, Cristian Moreni, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin).

In 2007, current Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins, now of Team Sky, was part of the Cofidis team that went home after the 16th stage.

Tour de France officials have yet to comment on the case.

Di Gregorio was arrested earlier Tuesday as part of an investigation into the organized trafficking of doping substances, Marseille magistrate Jacques Dallest said.

He was taken into police custody in Bourg-en-Bresse and was brought to Marseille for further questioning by investigating magistrate Annaick Le Goff, Dallest said.

Two other unidentified men, who are suspected of “having dealings” with Di Gregorio, were also taken into police custody.

Le Goff said earlier that the investigation had been “opened last year”. Prior to joining Cofidis for the 2012 season Di Gregorio raced with the Astana team, which is also racing the Tour de France.

Astana was also thrown off the race in 2007, after then leader Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan tested positive for blood doping.

Di Gregorio turned professional in 2005. His most noteable success was a stage in the Paris-Nice in March 2011.

Martin pulls out

World time trial champion Tony Martin of Germany has pulled out of the Tour de France during the race’s first rest day Tuesday, his Omega Pharma team confirmed.

“Tony Martin will not take the start of the 10th stage of Tour de France tomorrow (Wednesday),” his team said in a statement.

“In agreement with the team sport management and the team medical staff, Martin will return at home this afternoon.” — AFP