Pereiro cleared by French anti-doping

Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour de France runner-up was cleared of any doping charges by the French Anti-Doping Authority (AFLD) today. Pereiro, who had a certificate to use the asthma drug salbutamol from the UCI, was put under pressure last week by the AFLD to file further documents supporting his medical need for the drug.

Pereiro submitted the forms late last week, and was among 11 riders who were cleared when the AFLD accepted their medical clearance. The other riders were not named.

The story of Pereiro's case exploded when the French newspaper Le Monde reported that Pereiro had tested positive, something that UCI president Pat McQuaid called "scandalous". "He was not positive." McQuaid told Cyclingnews, "He uses Ventolin to treat asthma, as many people do. It is not a doping product or anything like that."