Police raid casts shadow over Bahrain's victorious Tour

Phones, training plans and food taken away by French police from hotel in Pau, reports Peter Cossins

- Peter Cossins

The Tour seemed to be easing towards Paris without the slightest sniff of controversy, either Covid-related or otherwise when news broke following stage 17 to the Col du Portet that French police had searched the Bahrain Victorious team bus and taken away training files, mobile phones, and even food following an anonymous tip-off. This was apparently based on the team’s performances at the Giro d’Italia, where Damiano Caruso was the surprise runner-up, and the Critérium du Dauphiné, where they won three stages.

The Bahraini team cooperated with the search, which was ordered by the OCLAESP, a unit within the French police that investigates alleged crimes against public health and the environment, including the traffic and use of doping products that are banned under French law.

Up to 50 officers were reported to have taken part in the operation, which resulted in the team’s riders and staff being kept up until the early hours of the morning. The OCLAESP gave few details about the raid but did reveal they planned to speak to the team’s head doctor, Marjan Korsic, following the Tour’s arrival in Paris last Sunday.