Spanish cyclists involved in doping scandal

The team was expelled from this year's Tour de France, which starts July 1, after its deputy director Jose Ignacio Labarta was arrested in the ongoing doping probe. The blood tests taken Monday will be compared with those seized by police in May.

Photo: Spanish cyclists involved in doping scandal

Leading newspaper El Pais on Sunday said Civil Guard police investigations show at least 15 members of another cycling team - formerly known as Liberty Seguros - were among 58 professional cyclists who may have received prohibited substances and blood transfusion in recent years.

Manolo Saiz, the former top official at Liberty Seguros, and four others were arrested in May when police seized steroids, hormones and the endurance-boosting substance EPO. Nearly 100 bags of frozen blood and equipment for treating blood were found, along with documents on doping procedures performed on cyclists. Saiz was questioned and released, and he denies involvement in doping.

Liberty Seguros withdrew its team sponsorship shortly after the police seizure. Astana-Wurth took over the team and announced Saiz's resignation this month, the AP reports.

Only four cyclists, all Spaniards, were identified by El Pais on Sunday. The newspaper said Saiz told police that at least three Liberty Seguros cyclists  had asked for Fuentes to treat them. The fourth rider identified in the report was Isidro Nozal.

About 200 professional riders stopped during an elite road race Sunday to protest the report.