Allegations of doping have plagued the Tour de France almost since its beginning in 1903. Early Tour riders were said to have consumed alcohol and used ether, among other substances, as a means of dulling the pain of competing in endurance cycling. As time went by, riders began using substances as a means of increasing performance rather than dulling the senses, and organizing bodies such as the Tour and the International Cycling Union (UCI), as well as government bodies, enacted policies to combat the practice.
In 1967, British cyclist Tom Simpson died climbing Mont Ventoux following use of amphetamines, complicated by the now defunct practice of drinking as little as possible.
At the 1998 Tour de France, dubbed the "Tour of Shame", a doping scandal erupted when Willy Voet, one of the soigneurs for the Festina cycling team, was arrested for possession of erythropoietin (EPO), growth hormones, testosterone and amphetamines. French police raided several teams in their hotels and found doping products in the possession of the TVM team. The riders staged a sit-down strike on stage 17. After mediation by Jean-Marie Leblanc, the Director of the Tour, police agreed to limit the most heavy-handed tactics and the riders agreed to continue. Some riders and teams had already abandoned and only 96 riders finished the race. In a 2000 criminal trial, it became clear that the management and health officials of the Festina team had organized the doping.
The doping controversy has surrounded seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong for some time, although there has never been evidence sufficient for him to be penalized by any sports authority.
The 2006 Tour had been plagued by the Operación Puerto doping case before its beginning, when many of the riders considered to be favorites, such as Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso were banned from competing by their respective teams one day prior to the Prologue due to doping allegations. Seventeen riders were implicated. Then, one of the most serious doping charges in Tour history emerged just four days after the end of the 2006 Tour de France: it was announced that American rider Floyd Landis had a positive test result for a testosterone imbalance in his 'A' or initial test sample, after he won stage 17; this was confirmed in his 'B' sample result. The decision to strip Landis of the victory rests with the International Cycling Union, but Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said, "It goes without saying that for us Floyd Landis is no longer the winner of the 2006 Tour de France." Landis has stated that he will fight to clear his name.
On July 24th, 2007, Tour de France rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion after winning the previous weekend's time trial, prompting his Astana team to pull out of the race and police to raid the team hotel.
Doping again overshadowed racing at the 2007 Tour de France on July 25, when an Italian rider was thrown out for failing a drug test, detained by police and had his hotel searched.
Cristian Moreni's positive test for testosterone prompted the withdrawal of his entire Cofidis team. Police were searching his hotel, and French TV showed police officers stationed on the premises.
Moreni's case fueled the deep sense of crisis already hanging over the race and sport. It came one day after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov and his entire Astana team were sent home after he tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.
French riders staged a protest at the start of the 16th stage to express disgust at the repeated doping scandals that have left cycling's credibility in tatters.
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