Team Astana takes the podium after its win in the TTT (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Two and a half months after the Tour de France, public prosecution in Paris has opened a preliminary investigation against the Astana team, whose rider Alberto Contador won the event. The object of the investigation is the content of several syringes that the squad disposed of at the event, according to L'Equipe.
At the Tour de France, organiser Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) provides the teams with special containers to collect medical waste. The Central Office against environmental damage and public health (OCLAESP) has opened the proceedings after discovering several "suspect" syringes in the containers that belonged to the Astana team during the race.
The content of the syringes is currently being analysed by expert judiciary laboratory Toxlab in Paris. It is not known when the results are being expected.
Team Astana reacted to the news with surprise. "These reports are the first we as a team have heard of an investigation," read an official statement. "According to the press articles, the investigation involves a number of cycling teams having participated in the 2009 Tour de France."
"The Astana Cycling Team has nothing to hide, the riders use no forbidden substances. The Team is confident in the result of analyses performed or to be performed by a Parisian laboratory and is prepared to cooperate."
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