Rabobank question Rasmussen tests

PAU, France -- The team of Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen questioned on Tuesday the legality of drugs tests conducted on the rider by the Danish Anti-Doping Agency (ADD).

Dane Rasmussen is a Monaco resident and has had cycling a license from the principality since January 1, 2007. The Rabobank rider was a Mexico resident the two previous years.

"It is questionable from a legal point of view from ADD to be authorised to do tests with Michael outside Denmark because Michael has a license from another federation," Rabobank's lawyer Harro Knijff told a news conference.

"Until January 1, he had a license from the Mexican federation and as of January 1, he has a license from the federation of Monaco.

"It is highly questionable from a legal point of view that ADD have the competence to do tests outside Denmark," he added.

Asked if he had ever been tested by Mexico or Monaco's authorities, Rasmussen said: "No, I have never been tested by the Monaco authorities or by the Mexican authorities."

Rasmussen often trains in Mexico, the home country of his wife.

The 33-year-old, who has led the Tour since the eighth stage of the race, has been at the center of a controversy since the Danish Cycling Union (DCU) announced last Thursday he had been dropped from the national team for the world championships.

The DCU has since gone on to query Rasmussen's eligibility to compete saying the rider has received four warnings for failing to provide information of his whereabouts during training.

Under International Cycling Union (UCI) rules, a rider must inform the sport's governing body of his personal schedule so random tests can be conducted.

If the cyclist fails to do so, he receives a warning. Three such warnings over a rolling 18-month period is considered the equivalent of a positive test and results in a two-year suspension.

The UCI said Rasmussen had received two warnings from them.

"He (Rasmussen) has actually had four warnings," DCU president Jesper Worre told Reuters by telephone on Tuesday.

"I don't know why he has not been suspended. It is not our job to do that that, we can just decide not to select him."

Worre revealed that the Danish Rabobank rider received a first warning from UCI last year and a second on June 29 this year for failing to inform the authority of his training location.

The official added that Anti-Doping Denmark (ADD) issued the rider a warning on April 6 after they went to an address he gave in Italy to conduct a random test and he was not present.

He then received a second warning from the ADD on June 21 for a similar offence.

Rasmussen has denied doping and claims that he made an "administrative error" in forgetting to inform anti-doping testers of his whereabouts when they were looking for him.

The Rabobank star has found little support with UCI president Pat McQuaid quoted on Monday as saying he hoped another rider would win the Tour de France to protect cycling's image.

British rider David Millar, who has been a fierce critic of doping since serving a two-year ban himself, was also critical.

"He has either been unprofessional or has used the system," he said.

Rasmussen holds a two minute 23 seconds advantage over Spain's Alberto Contador as the peloton has a rest day in Paul on Tuesday before the Tour resumes on Wednesday with the final stage in the Pyrenees. E-mail to a friend