Police said Frigo's wife was arrested Tuesday with about 10 doses of the banned endurance-boosting hormone EPO. An Albertville prosecutor was to question the couple Wednesday afternoon.

Frigo, of the Fassa Bortolo team, was 52nd in the Tour de France standings after Tuesday's 10th stage.

Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc confirmed that Frigo's wife was arrested near Chambery with what he called pharmaceutical products. He said tour officials don't know what the products are.

Frigo was arrested Wednesday morning at the team hotel and is now in detention, he said, adding that the police force "is doing its work."

Leblanc said drug cheats need to be expelled.

"If the accusations are confirmed, Frigo would show that he's part of this generation of riders who have understood nothing, who didn't want to listen," Leblanc said.

Fassa Bortolo told tour organizers Frigo's was an isolated case, according to another tour director, Christian Prudhomme.

Frigo was accused last year along with nine other cyclists and two physical therapists in Italy in connection with a drug scandal at the 2001 Giro D'Italia.

The 31-year-old has been with the Fassa Bortolo team since 2003. He won the Paris-Nice in 2001 and the Tour of Romandie in 2001 and 2002.

He was also Italian time trial champion and took the Zurich championship in 2002.

The other members of Fassa Bortolo were starting Wednesday's 11th stage of the Tour de France between Courchevel and Briancon.

Associated Press Writer Thierry Boinet contributed to this report.

Sports Information Matchups Current