French professional cyclist Fabien Taillefer, currently under police investigation for doping, on Thursday admitted to
taking drugs in an interview with a cycling website.

The 21-year-old, winner of the 2007 junior Paris-Roubaix, told www.directvelo.com: “With the help of some people I started to take drugs. I forgot the most important things for a cyclist – training, nutrition, and sleep. I replaced these with drugs.”

Taillefer said he took banned substances in 2009.

He said he was accused by French police of selling drugs, of using and keeping banned substances.

“I am cooperating with the legal process. I hope this will be taken into account and that my sentence will be reduced,” he added.

Taillefer is one of a dozen suspects being investigated in a doping affair by police in Caen in Normandy.