Sydney – Australia's Tour de France winner Cadel Evans has acknowledged meeting a doctor at the centre of an international cycling scandal, but said they never discussed doping.
Evans, 35, who won last year's Tour de France, said he spoke to Michele Ferrari in 2000 and has had no contact with the Italian since then.
Ferrari has been handed a lifetime ban by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for his role in an extensive doping network that included seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Evans told Australia's Special Broadcasting Service website Monday he met Ferrari to assess his road climbing ability and had no contact with the doctor before or afterwards.
“There was never any discussion of doping (with Ferrari) or any sign of anything illegal,” he said.
Asked whether, in light of Ferrari's chequered history with athletes, he thought it appropriate at the time to receive consultation or advice from him, Evans replied: “My only motive at the time was to understand my capabilities as a road rider.
“At that time, Mr Ferrari's opinion was very highly regarded by teams and team managers, and therefore helpful for me to gain opportunities with road teams.”
Key cycling figures, including disgraced American cyclist Tyler Hamilton and Australian anti-doping expert Anne Gripper, have hailed Evans's 2011 Tour de France win as a victory for clean cycling.
His Australian manager Jason Bakker, who has worked with Evans for the last few years, strongly backed the rider.
“I have absolute and utter faith in Cadel Evans – he's a man of the highest principles that I have met, without doubt,” Bakker said. – Sapa-AFP