Kohl to help combat doping

Retired Austrian rider Bernhard Kohl, who finished third overall and won the King of the Mountains title at last year's Tour de France before he was found to test positive for CERA, has agreed to co-operate with the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) in its fight against doping.

Having announced a new test to be instituted by the AFLD at this year's Tour de France, agency chief Pierre Bordry explained that the disgraced former Gerolsteiner rider met with representatives of the authority to discuss a possible collaboration.

"The secretary general of the AFLD and the director of controls met with Bernhard Kohl today in Vienna and returned with information that we will check," Bordry told news agency Reuters. He said that Kohl disclosed "information regarding the fight against doping".

It's an about face for the Austrian, who initially denied having used CERA during the Tour before admitting his misdemeanour and allegedly telling French sports daily L'Equipe that the top 10 rider in last year's Tour de France were doped. He later stated that he had not made that statement and the publication had fabricated the claim.

This apparent collaboration comes after Kohl was suspended for two years and subsequently announced his retirement at the age of 27.