UPDATE: INEOS aware of bombshell historic doping allegation: "The team has made a formal request for information"

Although the INEOS Grenadiers are currently enduring a quiet and somewhat disappointing 2025 Tour de France, a bombshell report by the Irish Independent might be set to throw the British-based team into chaos.

According to a report by the Irish Independent, the current Head Carer of the INEOS Grenadiers team, David Rozman, has links to the disgraced Dr. Mark Schmidt, a physician at the centre of the Aderlass doping scandal. 

Schmidt admitted and was subsequently convicted in 2020, to doping athletes since 2012 and was identified as the mastermind of a blood doping network dismantled in 2019. As mentioned, information garnered by the Irish Independent has now revealed INEOS Grenadiers Head Carer David Rozman shared a number of messages with Schmidt in 2012, including one that asked the doctor if he had "the stuff used at Milram", a team embroiled in its own doping case in 2007.

Even more troubling as far as the INEOS Grenadiers are concerned, is that the report also cites an alleged meeting between Rozman and Schmidt at the 2012 Tour de France, the day before Chris Froome won atop Planche des Belles Filles as Bradley Wiggins continued his road towards the Maillot Jaune victory.

When approached for comment on the allegations by L'Equipe on Wednesday, the French outlet states that the INEOS Grenadiers refused to make any statement, although they do note: "Present at the Tour’s start, Rozman has reportedly disappeared from public view since Monday. He has also vanished from Chris Froome’s social media — the Briton having quietly deleted posts featuring Rozman, once a trusted masseur during Froome’s prime."

Although INEOS had continued to remain quiet on the topic, avoiding all questions, the team have now released a statement. As revealed by cycling journalist Daniel Friebe, INEOS say: "INEOS Grenadiers Cycling Team is aware of recent media allegations relating to the 2012 season and a member of its staff. These allegations have not to date been presented to the team by any appropriate authority, however the team has made a formal request to the International Testing Agency (ITA) to request any information it considers relevant. The team reiterates its policy of zero tolerance to any breach of the applicable WADA codes, historic or current."

Friebe also notes how this statement comes as something of a surprise. "They weren’t commenting & it didn’t sound as though a statement was coming, but here it is," he replies to one comment.