Frenchman one of a dozen arrested in doping raids in France
Speaking from police custody after his arrest this week, former junior Paris-Roubaix winner Fabien Taillefer has confessed to have used doping products. The 21 year old Frenchman said that he gave in to temptation after an injury, then forgot how to live like an athlete.
“I was elected Vélo d’Or Junior [prestigious French award] in 2007, I had a good season in 2008,” he told DirectVelo.com, speaking of the ability which brought him success early in his career. “Then when I went to the pros the following year, I was operated twice for a cyst in the thigh. The professional peloton, it’s a world that does not laugh. I was not in shape. With the help of some people, I arrived at the point of doping myself.
“I overlooked the most important things for a rider, namely training, nutrition and sleep. I replaced all of that with doping. The result was that I was not better, even worse. I did not train. It was easy. Besides, I didn’t win a race that year.”
USSA Pavilly Barentin rider Taillefer is one of four people who were arrest this week as part of the Médi 14 case, which concerns riders in the Brittany and Normandy regions of France. His father Fabrice was also one of the dozen who was taken into custody.
Taillefer Jr said that the investigation dates back to events that happened in 2007, but maintains that he only started doping in 2009, and gave up prior to the start of this season.
He has been the subject of strong criticism in a number of areas, including on Facebook, and said that he understands why people are angry. He insists that his earlier results were clean ones, and that he took to using banned substances when he went through a tough period in his life. This period lasted a year and a half, and he admits it included the period of time when he won two stages in the Tour de la Manche. It also included his third place in last year’s Espoir Paris-Roubaix, behind Taylor Phinney (USA) and Belgium’s Jens Debusschere.
Taillefer’s admission refers to himself alone, in that he only speaks of using the products himself. He does admit that he is being investigated for matters that extend further, though. These may or may not be accurate; time will tell. “I do not know the exact terms but basically I am accused of having sold, used and owned doping products,” he told Direct Velo. “I am being blamed for events that occurred between 2009 and 2010. An investigation has been opened. I know the names in the investigation but it’s not for me to speak.”
He said that he has cooperated fully with the investigation, and that his performances this season had been clean ones. He was well placed on stages of the Circuit des Plages Vendéennes and won a race last Saturday in Melrand, Morbihan.
“I want to ride the bike again; I have no longer anything to do with doping,” he said. He’s hoping that he will not be punished too heavily and that he will be able to return to racing soon; it’s hard to see that happening, though, with a ban of at least one year seeming all but certain.