Former pro steps back after reports of EPO positive during 1998 Tour de France
Former Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Cedric Vasseur has been confirmed as replacing Laurent Jalabert as a consultant during this year’s race, and will take over his slot on France Télévisions.
Jalabert [pictured] has stepped back from his role commentating on the race after L’Equipe reported this week that a reanalysis of his samples from 1998 had revealed the presence of EPO.
The retests were originally carried out by the AFLD in 2004, but the names remained anonymous. However the ongoing French Senate enquiry into the fight against doping caused the necessary information to be made available, which enabled the cross referencing of the sample codes with the rider’s name and thus exposed Jalabert.
He expressed surprise about the story, but stopped short of a denial. “That [surprise] was my first reaction because I did not expect this. Certainly I raced in the 90s, but I’ve always trusted the medical staff of the team and I’ve never had an outside doctor,” he told RTL.
“I do not disagree because I do not have the information. I do not know on what L’Equipe based this.”
Jalabert had been due to work for both France Télévisions and RTL on the race.
“Faced with suspicions of which he is the object, Laurent Jalabert wished temporarily suspend its work as a consultant in the media, waiting to shed light on the reality of the charges against him,” said the first of those two media organisations in a statement. “It is with regret that France television takes note of this decision, hoping to soon to renew its confidence.”
Vasseur had already stood in for Jalabert several times in the past, including when the latter had a bad cycling accident earlier this year.