Team Phonak has sidelined two of its top riders, Santiago Botero and José Enrique Gutierrez (both theoretically Tour contenders, especially after Gutierrez’ fabulous out-of-nowhere 2nd place showing in the Giro), pending further investigation into their involvement in the Spanish doping scandal rocking the cycling world. Both riders were named in connection with the doctor who is under suspicion of providing blood transfusions and other doping.

Team Manager John Lelangue was quick to point out that neither rider has been dismissed or suspended from the team - they’re just being taken out of the limelight while the team - and the entire profession - sorts things out. Of course, if they’re found to have done anything illegal, Lelangue says they’ll be dismissed immediately.

On the other side of the coin, T-Mobile forced its riders - including Oscar Sevilla, who is on videotape going into the clinic at the heart of the scandal - to sign a declaration saying they were not involved. Sevilla signed it, and T-Mobile says they’re taking him at his word. The Tour lineups haven’t yet been announced, so it remains to be seen whether Sevilla would be left off the Tour team due to any residue from the ongoing investigation.