2009 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador insists he is "absolutely relaxed" after French prosecutors opening a preliminary investigation into suspicious medical materials seized during this year's race.
Syringes and transfusion material were reportedly found in a container used by Astana to dispose of waste during the final four stages of this year's Tour.
It is understood that the investigation involves several teams, not just the Kazakh-funded outfit which also included seven-time winner Lance Armstrong in its 2009 line-up.
The preliminary investigation has been opened to discover if there are sufficient grounds for a formal investigation under French law.
"In France, the fight against doping is total and Astana was the most scrutinised team in the Tour," Contador said following the announcement of the 2010 route at the Palais des Congress in Paris.
"I heard they were looking into our waste but I'm absolutely relaxed," Contador added.
Last night, Team Astana released a statement insisting it had nothing to hide.
"Astana is surprised to read in the French press that the team is involved in an investigation by French prosecutors into doping," the statement read. "These media reports are the first we as a team have heard of an investigation.
"The Astana team has nothing to hide, the riders use no forbidden substances, the team is confident in the result of analyses performed or to be performed by a Parisian laboratory and is prepared to cooperate".
The 2010 route unveiled on Tuesday features several punishing mountain stages sure to favour Contador, one of the most gifted climbers in the sport's history.
See details of the route here
Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/itvcycling
