INEOS team member leaves Tour de France amid investigation into historic link with doping doctor

New York Times

24-07-2025

The head carer of the INEOS Grenadiers professional cycling team has left the Tour de France amid an investigation over an alleged historic link to a doctor convicted of doping.
A German television documentary and subsequent newspaper reporting last week alleged that David Rozman — working at the time as a 'soigneur' (carer) for Team Sky, now owned by INEOS — had exchanged messages with Mark Schmidt, a German doctor jailed in 2021 for his role in a high-profile doping ring, in 2012 and arranged to meet him during that year's race.
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INEOS acknowledged last week that it was aware of the 'media allegations' surrounding the Slovenian but claimed the team had not, at any time, been presented formally with them by 'any appropriate authority'.
In a statement on Thursday, first provided to and reported by The Guardian, INEOS reiterated that stance before confirming that Rozman has now stepped back from his role at the Tour to undertake an interview with the International Testing Agency (ITA), an independent organisation which implements anti-doping programs for international sports bodies.
'Team member David Rozman was informally contacted in April 2025 by a member of ITA staff, who asked him about alleged historical communications,' the statement read. 'David immediately notified the team of his meeting with the ITA and his recollection of the contents of the meeting. Although the ITA assured David at the time that he was not under investigation, INEOS promptly commissioned a thorough review by an external law firm.
'The team has acted responsibly and with due process, taking the allegations seriously whilst acknowledging that David is a long-standing, dedicated member of the team. The team continues to assess the circumstances and any relevant developments, and has formally requested any relevant information from the ITA.'
According to German broadcaster ARD, one message read: 'Do you still have any of the stuff that Milram used during the races? If so, can you bring it for the boys?' Another allegedly had Schmidt being invited to visit the Team Sky hotel for a beer the night before a key mountain stage.
'Following recent media allegations, David has now received a request from the ITA to attend an interview,' the statement continued. 'Accordingly, he has stepped back from race duties and has left the Tour. To date the team has received no evidence from any relevant authority. In response to the team's request for information, the ITA has advised the team that it cannot share any further information, due to legal and confidentiality restrictions.
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'Both David and the team will of course co-operate with the ITA and any other authority. The team reiterates its zero-tolerance policy and is unable to comment further at this time.'
The Athletic has approached the ITA for comment.
INEOS had been enduring a difficult Tour de France until Dutch climber Thymen Arensman won stage 14, a steep climb to Superbagnères. Outside that success, however, INEOS have been largely anonymous.
Their general classification leader Carlos Rodriguez was forced to withdraw on Thursday after fracturing his pelvis the day before, but he had only been 10th overall, a poorer result than both previous years.
(Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg via Getty Images)