Cofidis returns to racing in Spain

Cofidis

Cofidis (Image credit: Sirotti)

The Cofidis squad will return to the peloton in this weekend's Spanish races less than two weeks after withdrawing from the Tour de France on July 25th following the doping positive of its rider Cristian Moreni. The team issued a statement on its website, www.equipe-cofidis.com, saying that the suspension of the team was only temporary, and that leaving the Tour was necessary in order to send a strong message to the riders in light of "inadmissible behaviour".

The statement continued, "This withdrawal also allowed the sponsor Cofidis time to analyse the situation and to come to conclusions on the future of the team." Confident that the positive control for testosterone was the result an "intolerable, but individual and isolated from doping," the team committed to forging ahead with reinforced measures to prevent doping.

The team has been actively fighting doping by its riders since the eruption of the case that was labelled 'the Cofidis affair', much to the chagrin of its sponsor. What began with a former team member being caught with banned doping products at a Paris airport ended in a length court case that finally concluded in late 2006. The team vowed not to give up its long fight "against this plague" and wants to return to competition to avoid penalising innocent riders for the actions of one.

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Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura's specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.