Former Tour de France champion Bjarne Riis says cycling is ‘very clean sport’

Riis: Cycling ‘very clean sport’

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Former Tour de France champion Bjarne Riis says cycling has cleaned up its act since the days when he was competing and is almost free of doping.

Riis has admitted to using EPO, a mix of growth hormones and cortisone, to win the Tour in 1996.

He told The Associated Press on Tuesday that “drugs were part of cycling in the past but I truly believe today it is very, very little and cycling has become a very clean sport.”

Riis declined to comment on doping allegations against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, saying “I am not involved in that or in any investigation regarding that case.”

U.S. investigators have shown interest in Armstrong after former teammate Floyd Landis alleged that Armstrong and others took performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong denies the accusations.