Cycling: Investigations against former professional cyclist Rumsas over death of son

The public prosecutor’s office of the Italian city of Lucca has launched an investigation against the former Lithuanian cycling professional Raimondas Rumsas in connection with the death of his son.The third overall winner of the Tour de France 2002 is suspected to be responsible for the death of the 21-year-old amateur cyclist Linas Rumsas.

Linas Rumsas was on the 2.May deceased, the prosecutor’s office suspects as a result of taking banned doping substances.The apartment of the Rumsas family near Lucca was searched.Searches have also been carried out in the apartment of Linas Rumsas’s amateur team.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that banned substances and drugs were confiscated.Investigations are underway against a total of five persons.The accusation is that doping substances have been administered, fencing has been used and anti-doping legislation has been violated.

Raimondas Rumsas had been convicted during his active career as a doping offender.His wife Edita, the mother of Linas, was stopped at the Italian border in 2002 and arrested with considerable amounts of EPO, anabolic steroids and stimulants in the car.She was held in custody for several months before being released on bail.She and her husband were sentenced to four months in France on probation for illicit imports of drugs that can be used as doping in 2006.

Raimondas Rumsas was under contract with the Italian Lampre team until he was tested positively in the Giro d’ Italia 2003 and suspended for one year.