Pierre Bordry, President of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD), said Wednesday that the samples of approximately ten athletes had revealed traces of Dynepo, the drug believed to be the new EPO.
Traces of this drug were discovered in the analysis of samples from Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen. "I do not see why this issue is polarizing around Rasmussen. There are many athletes in the same case. In June already, I had mentioned that there had been ten cases in athletics," said Bordry according to the AFP. A test for Dynepo is in the works, but not yet approved.
AFLD also indicated it was pleased with the effectiveness of doping controls conducted at the Tour de France. AFLD officials as well as those from the French Cycling Federation (FFC), Amaury Sport Organization (ASO, race organizers), and principal collaborators of the agency were brought together around the same table for an evaluation. "This meeting will make it possible for the future to still improve the effectiveness of controls," said Bordry to the Associated Press. "We noted that good co-operation and professionalism allow more targeted strategy of controls.
The testing from the 2007 Tour de France led to the withdrawals of several race favorites, including Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov (Astana), who tested positive for a homologous blood transfusion; Italian Cristian Moreni, who tested positive for testosterone; and Spaniard Iban Mayo, a climber who tested positive for EPO.
