Ineos carer worked at Manchester United before ‘anti-doping questions'

The Guardian

2 days ago

The Ineos Grenadiers head carer who left the Tour de France earlier this month after it was revealed he had been called to interview by the International Testing Agency (ITA) over alleged links to convicted German doping doctor, Mark Schmidt, worked for Manchester United in 2024.
Sources at Manchester United have confirmed to the Guardian that David Rozman spent one month working at Old Trafford last year as part of what is called a 'knowledge exchange' within Ineos Sport. Rozman is described on the Ineos Grenadiers website as 'one of the longest-serving members of our staff' who 'takes on the important role of head carer'.
The Slovenian spent four weeks last year working alongside United's soft tissue therapists as part of an exchange programme introduced after Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner at Manchester United.
In a statement issued to the Guardian on 24 July, Ineos said Rozman had spoken 'informally' to the ITA in April when he was told he was not under investigation but added: 'Following recent media allegations, David Rozman has now received a request from the ITA to attend an interview. Accordingly, he has stepped back from race duties and has left the Tour.'
The allegations stem from a recent documentary made by ARD in Germany, which made claims linking Rozman to Schmidt but did not name him, with further media reports including alleged texts between the Ineos staff member and Schmidt from June 2012, when the team were racing as Team Sky.
The documentary and subsequent reports were said to have drawn on court transcripts and in-court reporting during the Aderlass hearings, which resulted in Schmidt being jailed in 2021 for orchestrating a doping ring revolving around cross-country skiers and multiple cyclists between 2012 and 2019.
Dave Brailsford, the head of Ineos Sport, who returned to the Tour de France this July after his sojourn at Manchester United, declined to comment on the Rozman allegations during the race, but was a leading figure in directing performance at Old Trafford.
Also seconded to Carrington, United's training ground during refurbishment of their laundry facilities, was an Ineos Grenadiers team bus, for use by kit staff at Old Trafford.
British Cycling has confirmed to the Guardian that Rozman was also present, working for Team GB, at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
His spell at Manchester United pre-dates the ARD documentary or any contact with the ITA.
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In the statement on 24 July Ineos Grenadiers said: 'The team has acted responsibly and with due process, taking the allegations seriously whilst acknowledging that David is a long-standing, dedicated member of the team. The team continues to assess the circumstances and any relevant developments, and has formally requested any relevant information from the ITA.
'To date the team has received no evidence from any relevant authority. In response to the team's request for information, the ITA has advised the team that it cannot share any further information, due to legal and confidentiality restrictions. Both David and the team will of course co-operate with the ITA and any other authority. The team reiterates its zero-tolerance policy and is unable to comment further at this time.'
Ineos Grenadiers did not respond to further requests for comment.