Armstrong’s team directors questioned in France
Johan Bruyneel and Alain Gallopin, according to today’s L’Equipe, were both questioned in France concerning prohibited medical supplies that French police found during last year’s Tour de France.
The two former Astana sports directors met with investigators of the Central Office against Environmental Damage and Public Health (OCLAESP). Its investigators claimed to have uncovered syringes of various sizes and infusion equipment in the medical waste disposed by the Astana team last July.
Both men left Astana with Lance Armstrong over the winter to form team RadioShack. Belgian Bruyneel met with investigators one month ago and Frenchman Gallopin met with them nearly two months ago.
“They were questioned at length on what constitutes a breach of sporting code, the use of drips for emergency situations, regardless of their content,” reported L’Equipe. “They both said that they were not aware of anything.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned infusion equipment in July of 2008, except for emergency reasons and French law prohibits the possession of such medical equipment.
The public prosecutor in Paris opened the investigation in October, three months after Astana’s Alberto Contador won the Tour de France and Armstrong finished third.
The case could lead to another investigation, according to L’Equipe, this time for team Caisse d’Epargne. Tests preformed on insulin syringes found in the team’s trash bins revealed a method of doping called ‘blood spinning’, the injection of one’s own blood platelets.
The efforts of the French investigators underline that cycling continues to be at sport’s anti-doping forefront. Since the 1998 Festina Affair, testing has increased to ensure cycling’s future.