Tour de France runner-up denies doping

Cycling: Oscar Pereiro is on a collision course with anti-doping officials after it emerged he is still to provide a medical…

Cycling:Oscar Pereiro is on a collision course with anti-doping officials after it emerged he is still to provide a medical dossier explaining why he twice tested positive for salbutamol in last year's Tour de France.

Pereiro, who finished second in the Tour, failed dope tests on two stages of the event, but sanctions were not pursued because authorities had granted him a waiver to take an asthma medication.

However, anti-doping officials are yet to receive any documents from the Spaniard which prove his waiver was medically justified.

Pereiro, who could inherit the title if American winner Floyd Landis fails in his appeal against doping offences during the Tour, has until January 25 to provide the necessary documentation.

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French anti-doping agency president Pierre Bordry said: "This rider tested positive two times. On each occasion, he indicated in the verbal process of anti-doping control that he had been given therapeutic authorisation to use it.

"There was therefore no reason to sanction him.

"But since September 2006, we have asked him by letter to hand over these documents.

"He has received three letters but he won't answer us, even though we've told him French rules require him to do so.

"Each time, there has been no response. It seems Pereiro has lost track of the doctor who filled out his forms.

"I am not accusing him at the moment," Bordry added in L'Equipe. "But Pereiro must explain himself, prove his innocence."

Pereiro denies any doping allegations, and has vowed to clear his name.

"I'll send a fax with the paperwork requested by the French anti-doping agency and then a certified letter," he said at a press conference.

"Once this is cleared up, I'll wait for whoever needs to to apologise to me."

Pereiro said he was cleared to use Ventolin, which is prescribed medically to help with asthma.

Landis tested positive during the Tour for excessive levels of testosterone.

He is appealing but if he fails, he will be stripped of his title and faces being banned from cycling for two years.