INEOS Grenadiers soigneur removed from Tour de France amidst speculations of involvement in Operation Aderlass

David Rozman, soigneur for INEOS Grenadiers left Tour de France amidst investigation of International Testing Agency (ITA) in relation to the large multi-sport Operation Aderlass from 2019 which shook the world of endurance sports (mainly skiing and cycling). As a consequence, 9 riders including former sprinter star Alessandro Petacchi were fined and/or banned.

While Rozman is not being officially suspected of any illegal activity at the moment, ITA is "informally" reviewing text messages Rozman sent to head of the operation Mark Schmidt. text messages to Schmidt. ARD journalists, who further dug into the case, have apparently found that conversation "suspicious".

"Following recent media allegations, David has now received a request from the ITA to attend an interview," the Ineos Grenadiers said in a statement released on Thursday. "Accordingly, he has stepped back from race duties and has left the Tour [de France]."

"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. Both David and the Team will of course cooperate with the ITA and any other authority. The team reiterates its zero-tolerance policy and is unable to comment further at this time."

"David immediately notified the Team of his meeting with the ITA and his recollection of the contents of the meeting," the team statement read. "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."