Cycling: Cofidis Team at Centre of French Investigation Into Alleged Drug Smuggling

The leading British rider David Millar's Cofidis team is at the centre of an investigation by French police trying to unravel a smuggling network allegedly involved in supplying banned drugs from eastern Europe to professional cyclists.

Yesterday a long-serving team masseur, Bogdan Madejak, and a former Cofidis cyclist, Marek Rutkiewicz, both from Poland, were assisting gendarmes with their inquiries after suspicious substances were allegedly found in the cyclist's baggage on Monday at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Police also detained two women, who were understood to be Madejak's daughters.

Cofidis team management was adamant last night that no other team members are involved. This probably means the scandal is unlikely to prove more than a background annoyance to Millar, who has won three stages in the last four Tours de France and is reigning world time-trial champion.

The team manager François van Londersele said reassuringly: "There will be no further pursuit of the team or riders. The only worry is over the masseur and, if he is found to have done wrong, he will be expelled from the team."

On Monday Cofidis's logistics base was searched, as was the office of the team doctor, Jean-Jacques Menuet. Nothing was found but further suspicous substances were allegedly discovered at Rutkiewicz's home in Hyeres, in southern France.