Longo could face ban over whereabouts rule

PARIS (AFP) — French cycling veteran Jeannie Longo faces a potential suspension for an alleged violation of the whereabouts rule regarding making herself available for random testing, sports daily l’Equipe reported Friday.

L’Equipe reported that Longo, still racing at 52, had received three warnings from the French Anti-Doping Agency over the past 18 months and now might miss the world championships in Copenhagen from September 19-25 as she heads for a disciplinary hearing.

L’Equipe noted that Longo has had various doping tests since she started her career back in 1979 but she is accused of not giving sufficient information about her whereabouts in recent months during training stints.

Longo won an Olympic road racing crown in 1996 and has won 13 world titles as well as three women’s Tour de France races.