Interesting that he is being investigated for
distributing. Also, I didn't know consumption of drugs is
not a crime in France
World champion Millar questioned in doping probe By
John Leicester
Associated Press
6/24/2004
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images David Millar:
'We're not cheats.' Print this article Email
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PARIS (AP) -- Police were questioning world champion
cyclist David Millar about allegations that he
distributed doping products during last year's Tour de
France, a judicial official said Thursday.
Police officials said Millar was taken into custody on
Tuesday night in the southwestern city of Biarritz -
less than two weeks before the start of this year's
Tour that begins July 3 in Liege, Belgium.
Millar, of Britain, was under questioning and risks
being placed under investigation -- a step short of
being charged -- in connection with the probe opened
a year ago.
Eight people have already been placed under
investigation in the probe, most of them connected,
past or present, to the Cofidis team that Millar
rides for.
One of those eight alleged that at last year's Tour,
"poisonous products from Millar were consumed and
given to others," said the well-placed judicial
official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Consuming doping products is in itself not a crime in
France, but having, acquiring or transporting
"poisonous products" is illegal.
The investigating magistrate leading the probe has
until Thursday evening to decide whether to place
Millar under formal investigation, which would
indicate that investigators believe there could be
grounds to prosecute him.
The only rider to fail a drug test at last year's Tour
was Spanish cyclist Javier Pascual Llorente. He tested
positive for the endurance drug EPO, which works by
boosting oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
The race was won Lance Armstrong, giving the Texan his
fifth victory in a row. He is shooting for a record
sixth crown this year.
Millar, the defending world time trial champion, is
the star of Cofidis, one of France's leading squads.
Worried that the doping scandal would ruin his season,
defending world road champion Igor Astarloa quit
Cofidis in April to join Italy's Lampre team.
Cofidis qualified automatically for this year's Tour.
Millar has won three stages in his four previous
Tours, including the final time trial last year.
The scandal surrounding his team broke into the open
at the start of the year. It is the biggest doping
scandal to hit cycling since the Festina affair in
1998 that nearly halted the Tour de France that year
and laid bare the extent to which illegal substances
have been used in cycling and other sports.
In January, Millar told Britain's daily Guardian
that the scandal was "sad and annoying" but
limited in scope.
"We are not cheats," he said.
The probe is headed by Judge Richard Pallain, based in
the Paris suburb of Nanterre, who is investigating
suspected "traffic in poisonous substances."
Millar was detained on Pallain's orders.