Tour teams facing investigation

A preliminary investigation into several teams who took part in the 2009 Tour de France has been launched after suspicious medical material was seized.

Syringes and transfusion equipment believed to belong to teams were found in medical waste containers during the race and are currently being analysed.

"It (the material) is now being analysed by experts," said a spokeswoman for Paris prosecutors.

Astana have denied French media claims that it is one of the teams involved.

Tour winner Alberto Contador and third-placed Lance Armstrong rode with Astana in this year's race.

Spain's Contador is still under contract with the Kazakh-funded outfit, while Armstrong left to launch his own squad, Team RadioShack.

"Astana Cycling Team has nothing to hide, (its) riders use no forbidden substances, the team is confident in the result of analyses performed or to be performed by a Parisian laboratory and is prepared to cooperate."In a statement issued on Tuesday, Astana said it was "surprised to read in the French press that the team is involved in an investigation by French prosecutors into doping.

The prosecutors' office has not specified which teams are linked to the investigation.

She added: "The material is being analysed to determine whether we can find illegal substances and DNA that could possibly link it to riders."

Under French law, a preliminary investigation is launched to determine whether there is sufficient ground to open a formal investigation.

While there were no positive tests at this year's Tour, authorities did seize drugs that the French anti-doping agency's scientific adviser said raised questions.

The drugs - which include treatments for diabetes, high blood pressure and convulsions suffered by manic-depressives - are not banned but are "incongruous" in top-level athletes, professor Michel Rieu told French news agency AP last week.