His downfall came as judicial officials continued to question Spanish rider Moises Duenas Nevado, who was expelled from the race on Wednesday. Duenas Nevado was detained by police in Tarbes, at a hotel where his Barloworld team was staying. Police also searched his hotel room.
Gerard Aldige, the state prosecutor in Tarbes, told reporters that police found “numerous small medical materials like syringes, needles and medical drip bags, which theoretically a cyclist should not have in his room.”
Aldige said Duenas Nevado, who was released on Thursday, faces preliminary criminal charges for “holding and using poisonous substances or plants” and “prohibited importing of merchandise.”
They also found capsules and gels containing unknown substances.
Aldige said one medicine not authorized for sale in France was uncovered, though he did not elaborate.
Liquigas team rider Manuel Beltran, a former teammate of seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong, was kicked out of the Tour and sent home to Spain last Friday.
“I’m glad they got caught. The Tour needs to continue and get to the finish in Paris,” International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid said by phone. “It’s another blow to the sport, but I have to see it in light of the fact that they’re getting caught and going to be thrown out.”
In Thursday’s stage, Cavendish won his third bunch sprint of this year’s Tour, after a 168.5km ride from Lavelanet to Narbonne. Evans, trailing in the main pack, led Frank Schleck of Luxembourg by one second and Christian Vande Velde of the US by 38.
Sebastien Chavanel of France was second, with Gert Steegmans of Belgium third.
Yesterday’s 13th stage was a 182km ride from Narbonne to Nimes.
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