Nairo Quintana issued a statement regarding the French police investigation into him and his team, Arkea Samsic, saying he has nothing to hide and noting that no doping substances were found in a raid conducted at the team's hotel during the Tour de France ...

On Monday, the day after the Tour ended, it was announced that the Central Secretariat for the Control of Environmental and Public Health Damage (OCLAESP) raided the team's hotel room after stage 17, the Col de la Rose, and found "100 ml of saline solution and injection equipment. Later, news broke that two team staff members (Soignier and a doctor) had been taken into preliminary custody.

Nairo and his brother Deyer voluntarily agreed to be interviewed by the police after the Marseille Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed the opening of a formal investigation into a "small part" of the team.

Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said that "many health products containing drugs (...) and in particular, methods that could be identified as doping were found."

Late Tuesday night, Quintana issued a statement on social media. The 30-year-old, who finished 17th in Paris, said police had seized "perfectly legal" vitamin supplements, adding that no doping substances were found during the investigation.

"The French gendarmerie carried out the operation at the hotel where my team was staying in Meribel on Wednesday, September 16, after the Tour de France stage," Quintana wrote.

"That day, the authorities entered my room and seized a vitamin supplement that, although perhaps unfamiliar to the French authorities, was perfectly legal. This is the main reason why it took so long to resolve everything that happened."

"For the avoidance of doubt, we want to confirm that no doping substances were found."

According to a report in Le Parisien, Quintana's longtime soigneur Mikel Otero and doctor Freddy Alexander Gonzalez Torres, who was reportedly called up to the team as a substitute, remained in custody Tuesday.

In a statement, Quintana stressed that French authorities had not condemned him, noting that he and his brother attended the interview voluntarily.

"I also want to clear up a misunderstanding. I never consulted with assistants or staff members who were not part of the team, neither in this Tour nor in any race before that. I am not hiding anything and never have," Quintana wrote.

"Yesterday, by appointment of the French authorities (and voluntarily), I appeared before the public prosecutor's office and answered each of their questions clearly and without conscience.

"In this regard, I must emphasize that I have not received any charges from the authorities. As for me, I am ready to answer any question of the prosecutor, as I did on Monday and today.

Quintana said his biological passport is "impeccable," adding that he has never used doping substances at any level of his cycling career. He added that he would continue to cooperate with the investigation on a voluntary basis.

"I will remain fearless, remain strong, remain true, and continue to go my own way, even if the crowd looks the other way," he concluded.

The full text of Nairo Quintana's translated statement can be found below.

In relation to the latest developments, I would like to clarify the following:

The French gendarmerie carried out an operation at the hotel where my team was staying in Meribel on Wednesday, September 16, after the Tour de France stage. On that day, the authorities entered my room and seized a vitamin supplement that was probably unfamiliar to the French authorities, but perfectly legal. This is the main reason it took so long to resolve everything that happened.

For the avoidance of doubt, I want to confirm that no doping substances were found.

I also want to clear up a misconception: neither in the recent Tour nor in any race before that, I never consulted with assistants or staff who were not part of the team. I have not and have never hidden anything from you.

Yesterday, at the request of the French authorities (and voluntarily), I appeared before the public prosecutor's office and answered each and every one of their questions clearly and without conscience. In this regard, I must emphasize that I am not under any accusation from the authorities. For my part, I am and will continue to be ready to answer any questions of the Prosecutor's Office, as I was on Monday and today.

I, Nairo Quintana, have been a clean cyclist throughout my sporting life and have an impeccable biological passport. I want to make it clear to the public, my fans, and my cycling followers that in all my career, junior, under 23, and professional, I have never used any illegal substance to enhance my sporting performance and betray the principles of the sport.

For the time being, a preliminary investigation is underway and I have answered all questions and doubts and will voluntarily continue my investigation until all circumstances are clarified, on the assumption that I have never used doping substances and that no illegal substances were found in the police investigation.

I will remain strong, without fear, and will continue to defend the truth and continue on my path, even if the crowd turns in a different direction.

Your friend,

Nairo Quintana