Cyclingpost.com - Soler did not test positive: Tour organisers

Soler did not test positive: Tour organisers

By Jonathan Roorda
Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:44:34

ANGOULÊME, Jul 27 (CP) - Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler was temporarily the center of attention as Danish media reported that the Polka Dot Jersey holder tested positive after stage 14 of the Tour de France. Organisers ASO meanwhile, announced that the rider is innocent.

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Soler, currently the leader in the mountains classification, finished third in that stage. Alberto Contador and Michael Rasmussen came in first and second respectively.

Danish news source BT reports that police are currently raiding Barloworld's Hotel, and a press conference is scheduled for 11am on Saturday.

Bookmakers in England and Italy reportedly removed Soler's name from their odds, as result of these rumours.

Update 12:30pm CET

On Friday, rumours started to spread about one of the Jersey holders having tested positive after stage 14. At that time, these holders were Rasmussen, Contador, and Boonen. Soler did wear the Polka Dot Jersey, although this actually belonged to Rasmussen.

Late at night, Danish media began to report that police were raiding Barloworld's hotel, which linked the earlier rumours to Juan Mauricio Soler.

To this point however, no statements have been made by officials.

Soler is scheduled to appear in the individual time trial on Saturday. The Colombian should be starting at 3:56pm CET.

Update 1:07pm CET

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has said that Juan Mauricio Soler did not test positive after the 14th stage in the Tour de France, and indeed, the rider is scheduled to start in the time trial later today.

Whether there was indeed a positive doping test - not belonging to Soler - after stage 14, is still unknown.