In an interview with Weekendavisen magazine, two-time Tour de France King of the Mountains winner Michael Rasmussen pointed the finger at Norweigian Thor Hushovd for also failing to report his whereabouts prior to the 2007 Tour de France. Hushovd currently rides for the Cervélo TestTeam, but at the time of Rasmussen's claims he was riding for the French Crédit Agricole team.
According to Rasmussen, Hushovd had received two warnings from the Norwegian anti-doping agency, yet was still allowed to contest the race, winning stage 4 from Villers-Cotterêts to Joigny.
“It was a unique situation. The UCI knew in 2007 Thor Hushovd had two warnings from the Norwegian anti-doping federations, " said Rasmussen.
Riders are required to constantly make their whereabouts known so they can be subject to an anti-doping control at any time.
This wasn't the first time the Dane had made these claims about Hushovd. He told VG Nett newspaper, “It is strange that he says this again, and I do not understand where it [the accusation] comes from. If I had a notification warning, it would have been one thing. Such things can actually happen, but I have never gotten a warning.
“It's almost comical, so it doesn't annoy me.”
Rasmussen was ejected from the 2007 Tour de France for lying about his whereabouts by his then Rabobank team. At the time he was in the leader's yellow jersey and almost assured of a victory.
Erik M. Aaretun, the president of the Norwegian Cycling Federation in 2007, backed up Hushovd's statements.
“If that was the case, I would had been told about it. When we have athletes that receive warnings we are also informed, " Aarethun told VG Nett.
“This shows just how wrong Michael Rasmussen was - and is, if he continues to say this.”
Currently Rasmussen is racing for the Miche-Silvercross team but is looking to secure a contract with a ProTour level team which would allow him to race in one of the Grand Tours. However, with his controversial past he will likely have a hard time finding a team that is willing to risk taking him on.