Former French rider Laurent Jalabert has elected to resign from his job as a television and radio commentator at the Tour de France following allegations in French newspaper L’Équipe that he tested positive for EPO during the infamous and scandal ridden 1998 Tour.

“In order to be able to prepare a calm defence when the time comes, I have decided of my own volition to stop my work as a consultant with different media,” Jalabert told AFP on Tuesday.

As said by an article in printed in L’Équipe yesterday, retrospective analysis of Jalabert’s urine sample from stage 11 to Plateau de Beille showed that it was consistent with EPO use. The analysis was carried out incognito by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) in 2004 but it is understood that Jalabert’s name was recently matched to the sample by a French Senate Commission, which is holding an investigation into the fight against doping.

“I am the subject of revelations that were brought to my attention by way of the press and without any legal element. I don’t want these events to spoil the celebrations for the 100th Tour de France or damage the image of my partners,” Jalabert said.

Last month, Jalabert appeared before a French Senate commission to be questioned about his experiences of doping in cycling at a hearing in Paris and said that he had never intentionally doped during his spell as world number one in the late 1990s. The commission is scheduled to publish its report during the Tour de France, on July 18.