17 July 2008

LANNEMEZAN - Spanish rider Moises Duenas of the Barloworld team has tested positive for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) during the Tour de France and banned products have been found in his room during a search, his team revealed on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old tested positive during the fourth stage, a 29.5 km time-trial at Cholet.

His team immediately withdrew him from the race before the 11th stage at Lannemezan, the third and final day of climbing in the Pyrenees.

A team spokesman from the British-registered team confirmed that police had taken Duenas away for questioning and said they had suspended the rider pending the results of further tests, adding the team had been testing the riders regularly, but had not noticed any anomalies.

Late afternoon, Barloworld issued a statement on the team website saying police had found banned products in the room of Duenas, a former winner of the Tour de l'Avenir - considered the 'mini' Tour de France.

"Banned products which were absolutely not provided or prescribed by the team doctor were found in the room of Moises Duenas," the statement read.

Barloworld manager Claudio Corti added: "I have asked French police to hold a full enquiry into the case to understand the seriousness of what Moises Duenas has done.
"It seems he used banned products without the knowledge of anyone in the team."

Corti added he was stunned by the news.

"I'm shocked. I want to find out more about what has happened before going into detail and taking further action. However, the one thing I will say is that the team is not involved in this story at all and we'll take severe action against anyone who damages our credibility and the image of our team."

The Spaniard, in his third Tour, had been in 19th position after the first ten stages, 6min 43sec behind Australian race leader Cadel Evans.

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