French silent on 'Tour of Dopage'

Doping allegations ... French authorities refuse to release names of suspected dopers. Source: Pete Goding / AAP

FRENCH authorities have refused to release the names of suspected drug cheats on the infamous 1998 Tour de France despite the public outing of several of cycling's biggest stars.

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A French senate inquiry said it would release only the list of samples taken on the notorious Tour - and not the names of riders associated with those samples after a five-month investigation.

But French media sources claim Tour champion Marco Pantani and fellow stars Jan Ullrich, Erik Zabel, Laurent Jalabert and Jacky Durand all tested positive to performance-enhancing EPO in '98.

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According to French media, 44 of 60 urine samples retrospectively tested contained traces of EPO.

But no names, apart from those alleged by French media to be involved, have been formally linked to the positive samples – casting lasting smear on those who contested the race.

Durand has admitted using EPO, Pantani was persistently linked to doping before dying of a cocaine overdose and Ullrich and Zabel confessed to using EPO.

Questioned by government officials, Jalabert could not rule out taking illegal substances and stood down from commentary roles at this year's Tour.

Four Australians contested the notorious '98 Tour, including Stuart O'Grady who surprisingly retired on Sunday after completing the centenary Tour de France in Paris.

The others were Neil Stephens, now an Orica-GreenEDGE sports director who rode for Festina, Patrick Jonker and Robbie McEwen.

The '98 Tour - known now in France as the "Tour of Dopage" - was disgraced by the eviction of the Festina team for doping after its soigneur Willy Voet was caught on the Belgian border with a carload of banned products, including EPO and testosterone.

Several riders and officials were arrested and taken into custody for interrogation, sparking a sit-down protest by the peloton.

Ironically the 1999 Tour - dubbed the "Tour of Renewal" - was won by the sport's grubbiest and most despised cheat, Lance Armstrong.

There was no test for EPO in '98 and, at the time, a Swiss doctor estimated 98 percent of the peloton was using the blood booster.

Le Monde reported on Tuesday Italy's Pantani, Germany's Ullrich and American Bobby Julich -  the top three placegetters in '98 Tour de France - were all using EPO.

Julich left his position as coach with Team Sky at the end of last season after the British team ran an anti-doping review of its riders and staff.

Jalabert immediately stepped down as a television and radio critic for this year's Tour after being linked the French government probe into the effectiveness of anti-doping programs.

The commission questioned 84 witnesses under oath, including athletes officials from several different sports, and anti-doping experts.

Durand expected to be named at the inquiry, but wasn't.

Durand, a three-time stage winner of the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders winner, confessed on Eurosport.

"I admit my actions," he said. "I always deliberately discussed this for many years, whether with young riders, different journalists or my employers.

"Anyway I think that nobody is fooled. Press, supporters, spectators and racers know the difference between current and traditional practices regarding EPO.

"But of course, the general public may be confused between what happened in 1998 and what is happening now.

"The next generation must not pay for our crap from the past."

The results of the retrospective tests cannot be used for disciplinary action because they were not done following an anti-doping protocol.

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