Le Journal du Dimanche (opens in new tab) and L'Équipe (opens in new tab) report that French police searched the hotel room of Alcare Samsic on Wednesday evening during the Tour de France.

Team manager Emmanuel Hubert acknowledged to L'Équipe (opens in new tab) that the search took place, but declined to comment further. According to the sports newspaper, Nairo Quintana was the subject of the raid, which was conducted by police officers from the Central Secretariat for the Control of Environmental and Public Health Threats (OCLAESP).

According to L'Équipe, police also searched the rooms of Colombian riders Dyer Quintana and Winner Anacona, as well as the team's Soigner and team car. Arkea Samsic was staying near Meribel after stage 17, the Col de la Rose.

The raids, conducted as part of a preliminary investigation, were not organized in cooperation with the French anti-doping agency (AFLD).

Quintana joined Arkea Samsic before the 2020 season after seven years with Movistar. Joining him on the French team were his brother Deyer and fellow countryman Anacona. As a member of Arkea Samsic, Quintana won five races in the opening week of the season.

This string of victories put Quintana among the favorites to win the Tour, but his preparation was hampered by a training crash in Colombia in July. He crashed again on stage 13 of the Tour, and his attempt to make the podium at the Grand Colombier two days later fell short. [This was his lowest finish in a Grand Tour since the 2012 Vuelta a España.