Bahrain Victorious under Doping Investigation
In a public statement released on the team's website, Bahrain Victorious shared information stating that police searched the homes of several riders before their departure to the Tour de France. The team feels that the timing of this investigation is aimed at intentionally damaging the team’s reputation, as they are the only team in the Tour de France under investigation. The main issue that spectators are having is that the investigations and team response mirror investigations and team responses that happened to the US Postal Service surrounding an unusual amount of consecutive wins by Lance Amstrong. Armstrong and his team had long been under investigation and riders tested negative many times before investigators uncovered the most elaborate doping ring the sport has ever seen. The house searches experienced today by members from Team Bahrain Victorious represent a continuation of the investigation process that began during the team’s successful performances at last year’s Tour de France.
Bahrain Victorious at the 2022 Tour of the Alps.
Bahrain-Victorious confirmed that the homes of some of its riders and staff were searched by police ahead of the Grand Depart in Copenhagen on Friday. Following on from an ongoing investigation that began at the 2021 Tour de France, wherein French police raided the hotel of the WorldTour team after stage 17 of the race. Ciclo21 reported that the European police agency Europol “has carried out two searches at the homes of official staff members in Slovenia, Poland, and Spain."
A statement released by Team Bahrain Victorious later that day strongly condemned both raids conducted so far - with one taking place just days before this year's edition of cycling's most prestigious event is set to begin. The team said: "Team Bahrain Victorious always works based on highest standards professionalism sports including integrity all professional members competitors. The cooperates constructively procedures competent institutions. Investigation into individuals started almost ago did not yield any results continues just before start important biking competition Tour France damages reputation Victorius" due to the recent investigations.
It went question motives behind timing new round searches claiming intentional reputational damage: "After efforts obtain additional information investigators decided to carry few days prior commencement biggest bicycle Tours world without doubt shadowing over purpose probe ... Cast aside doubts about impartiality independence examiners addition equality among teams". However, no charges have been filed against anyone associated with it yet even though the initial search was for evidence of potential doping activity involving unknown athletes part organization currently competing during this summer's grand tour racing calendar classic.
From 2021 to 2022 (so far) the team has claimed national championships in Solvenia TT, Slovenia RR, Italy RR, European RR, and Taiwan RR for 2021 -- Bahrain RR, Solvenia TT, and Japan RR for 2022, with national races still ongoing. The team achieved sporadic success in the 2021 season, spanning multiple stage victories alongside a GC win at the Vuelta a Burgos, Benelux tour, CRO Race, Paris-Roubaix, and a young rider win at the Vuelta a Espana. The only GC victory for the team so far in 2022 is the Vuelta a Andalucia.