December 24, 2009 (Paris, France) – The Astana Cycling Team broke French anti-doping law and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations during the 2009 Tour de France reported Le Monde newspaper yesterday. This was the preliminary conclusion of the assistant public prosecutor of Paris, Dominique Pérard, after analysis of material left in the garbage at hotel rooms occupied by Astana cyclists during the 2009 Tour. This conclusion is however attributed to an anonymous source “close to the prosecutor.”

Astana’s Alberto Contador won the 2009 TdF while team mate Lance Armstrong finished third.

The material found in the garbage consisted of syringes and needles of different sizes and is referred to as “perfusion equipment.” In addition, polypeptide medication was found. Such equipment is in contravention of the French anti-doping law of July 3, 2008 and on the banned methods list of WADA. Pedal has already reported how France now has some of the most extensive anti-doping legislation worldwide – more here.

Polypeptides are used in the treatment of hypertension and, while these medications are not prohibited in sporting events, they are often used to treat the secondary effects of EPO (erythropoietin), which is a banned substance. Further chemical analysis of this material is being pursued at French laboratories and tests are being done to determine if growth hormones (also a banned substance) were used.

French authorities have determined seven different biological profiles of Astana cyclists from the material seized. But further investigation is being complicated by current tense relations between the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) and the UCI. The UCI is expected to organize the 2010 edition of the Tour without the AFLD.

The AFLD accused the UCI earlier this year of giving favorable treatment to Astana cyclists, affording them a 45-minute delay before subjecting team members to an unannounced doping test on July 11. Such a delay would have been sufficient to let the cyclists’ blood dilute, noted an anonymous source close to the investigation.

The nine members of the Astana team at the 2009 TdF were:
– Alberto Contador (captain)
– Lance Armstrong
– Andréas Klöden
– Levi Leipheimer
– Dmitriy Muravyev
– Sergio Paulinho
– Yaroslav Popovych
– Gregory Rast
– Haimar Zubeldia

We reported last month how jurisprudence in sporting events has now established that mere circumstantial evidence can be used to convict athletes of doping infractions – read more here.

Le Monde original article (in French) here.
UCI response to some AFLD criticisms here.