Tour de France support staff member from Ineos Grenadiers amid historic misconduct claims steps down, set for questioning
In a surprising turn of events, David Rozman, the long-standing head soigneur of the Ineos Grenadiers Cycling Team, is currently under investigation by the International Testing Agency (ITA) for alleged doping activities in 2012.
The investigation was initiated following media reports that implicated Rozman in the Erfurt blood doping ring active in Germany during the early 2010s, as well as suspicious communications with a doping mastermind prior to the 2012 Tour de France.
The ITA first contacted Rozman informally in April 2025, and by late July, the Ineos Grenadiers confirmed that he had left the Tour de France as a result of the ongoing investigation.
Rozman, who has been with the team for 14 years, was allegedly in contact with Mark Schmidt, a German doctor who was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison in 2021 as part of the Operation Aderlass case. It is reported that Rozman sent a text message asking if Schmidt still had any banned substances used by Milram, a professional cycling team, during races.
The Ineos Grenadiers have acted responsibly and with due process, taking the allegations seriously while acknowledging Rozman's dedication to the team. The team has formally requested any relevant information from the ITA, but due to legal and confidentiality restrictions, the agency is unable to share any further details.
The team has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards doping and is unable to comment further at this time. Both David Rozman and the Ineos Grenadiers Cycling Team will cooperate with the ITA and any other authority in the ongoing investigation.
This latest development comes after the team commissioned a thorough review by an external law firm following the informal contact with the ITA in April 2025. The Ineos Grenadiers, formerly known as Team Sky, won the 2012 Tour de France with Bradley Wiggins.
The allegations against Rozman first emerged from German public service broadcaster ARD in June, and the team initially delayed making a comment about the allegations. However, they acknowledged the media allegations in a statement last week.
The ITA has spoken to Rozman and has summoned him for further questioning. As the investigation continues, the Ineos Grenadiers will assess the circumstances and any relevant developments. The latest updates on this ongoing story will be reported as more information becomes available.
References:
[1] The Guardian. (2025, July 30). Ineos Grenadiers' head soigneur David Rozman under investigation for alleged doping ties. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/30/ineos-grenadiers-head-soigneur-david-rozman-under-investigation-for-alleged-doping-ties
[2] Cycling Weekly. (2025, July 30). Ineos Grenadiers' David Rozman under investigation by ITA. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/ineos-grenadiers-david-rozman-under-investigation-by-ita-20250730
[3] Cyclingnews. (2025, July 30). Ineos Grenadiers' head soigneur David Rozman under investigation by ITA. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ineos-grenadiers-head-soigneur-david-rozman-under-investigation-by-ita/
The ongoing investigation by the International Testing Agency (ITA) has raised concerns about the involvement of sports in alleged doping activities, specifically within the Ineos Grenadiers Cycling Team.
The investigation involves David Rozman, a long-standing member of the team, who is reported to have contacted a German doctor with ties to doping activities in the early 2010s.
