PARIS (AP) — The French Anti-Doping Agency hopes it will have the support of cycling’s governing body to store blood and urine samples from Tour de France riders for eight years.
Agency head Bruno Genevois says the budget for doping tests at the upcoming Tour is “at least as much as for last year.” He says Tour organizers have agreed to pay half the costs.
In its annual report released Tuesday, the agency said 214 blood and urine samples were collected during the 2012 Tour.
The agency and cycling’s ruling body have often clashed in the past. But in April they agreed to cooperate and test riders on the Tour, which runs from June 29-July 21.
