There have been countless small-time cyclists busted for using performance enhancing drugs. But today, the word is out that one of the best time trialists in the world, current World Time Trial Champion David Millar, confessed to using EPO (specifically, Eprex). This is pretty bad, considering that he's one of the best riders in today's peloton.

This is the original article from L'Equipe, along with the English translation from babelfish.

Here's what Cycling News had to say about it:

According to Friday's edition of L'Equipe, World Time Trial Champion David Millar (Cofidis) has allegedly confessed to taking EPO. Millar allegedly made the confession to French police while he spent 48 hours in custody in Biarritz this week.

L'Equipe reported that empty ampoules of Eprex (EPO) were found by French police in Millar's house whilst he was being detained, writing "Millar has recognised that he used Eprex (erythropoetin) in the practice of his profession which puts him in the same position as a positive rider in the eyes of the UCI."

If this is the case, Millar will likely be charged by Nanterre judge Richard Pallain, who is heading the investigation into the Cofidis team, with illegal possession and use of toxic substances. So far, eight others have been charged in the affair which began early this year: Cédric Vasseur, Philippe Gaumont, Robert Sassone, Médéric Clain, Marek Rutkiewicz and Daniel Majewski (all riders), Boguslaw Madejak (ex-Cofidis physiotherapist), Oleg Kozlitine (former directeur sportif of Oktos).

Velonews posted a frontpage story on the David Millar affair. According to their article, the director of the Tour de France, Jean Marie Leblanc, has announced that Millar will not be allowed to compete in the 2004 Tour. I'm wondering if Millar might lose the title of World Time Trial Champion, too. However you look at it, this will be a huge blow to his cycling career.