Europol confirms doping raids before the start of the Tour de France

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Drivers from Team Bahrain-Victorious warming up: The racing team had confirmed searches

Photo: THOMAS SAMSON / AFP

The European police authority Europol has confirmed doping investigations as part of the Tour de France.

A statement on Friday said that between June 27 and 30, 14 searches took place in six countries, three people were interrogated and various pieces of evidence were seized.

Drivers' and team members' homes in Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovenia were searched.

The Marseille Public Prosecutor's Office was in charge.

Although Europol did not name the Bahrain-Victorious team, the racing team itself confirmed searches on both Monday and Thursday.

According to the newspaper "Le Parisien", which refers to the Marseille public prosecutor's office, telephones, computers, storage media and prescription drugs were confiscated.

The apartments of the Slovenian manager Milan Erzen, the Polish team doctor Piotr Kosielski and the French nurse Barnabé Moulin were searched.

In addition, the Italian professional Damiano Caruso admitted to "Cyclingnews" that his house in Sicily had been searched.

The team is under observation – no results so far

Caruso will captain the team in the Tour de France this year.

Last year, the 34-year-old was not at the Tour of France.

At that time, the Bahrain-Victorious team hotel in the Pyrenees was searched.

Cell phones were also confiscated, according to drivers.

A result of the investigation is pending.

So far, no official investigation has been initiated against any driver, nor have any bans been imposed.

Bahrain-Victorious had won the team classification and three stages on the previous tour.

• Everything you need to know about the start of the Tour de France can be found here

ngo/dpa