Named yesterday by L’Equipe as being interviewed by police in their investigation into the former BigMat Auber93 team doctor Philippe Bedoucha, FDJ rider Arnold Jeannesson has said that he is unhappy with how his name may have been affected.
Although the story said that Jeannesson and approximately ten riders from the BigMat Auber93 team were being spoken too as possible witnesses only and were not suspected of breaking any anti-doping rules, he still felt that he has been dragged into something that doesn’t concern him.
“I made a return trip for nothing,” he said in the same newspaper. “I was interviewed because I was a rider with the team in 2008. I had nothing [no information] to add to this investigation.
“It annoys me because people will associate myself with that. They will talk more about that than my 15th place in the Tour de France.”
According to L’Equipe, Bedoucha was taken into custody in Créteil on suspicion of supplying unnamed riders with EPO or growth hormone. Also linked to the case is the former mountainbike rider Jean-Philippe Tellier, who tested positive for EPO last year. He was arrested on Monday.
There are some suggestions that Bedoucha may have been dealing with amateur riders rather than professionals, although more details will emerge in time. What’s certain is that Jeannesson isn’t pleased that people might misinterpret the request for him to speak to the investigators, who apparently wished simply to see if he has any information that might be of use.
In addition to finishing 15th in the Tour de France, he wore the white jersey as best young rider during the race. He also finished third in the Tro-Bro Léon this season. At 25 years of age, he is regarded as one of the top young French talents in the sport.