A staff member from the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, who is currently under investigation for potential doping links, was employed by Manchester United in 2024. David Rozman, a soigneur for Ineos Grenadiers, stepped back from his duties during the Tour de France after the International Testing Agency (ITA) requested an interview regarding allegations tied to the 2012 season.
Rozman, who hails from Slovenia, serves as an assistant to riders, handling various tasks from logistics to providing massages. It has since come to light that he spent a month with United's soft tissue therapists in 2024 as part of a "knowledge exchange" following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of a stake in the club.
Manchester United has stated that it was unaware of the historical allegations against Rozman and maintains no involvement in them. The club declined to comment further on the matter. Ineos Grenadiers has also been approached for a statement.
The Ineos Grenadiers team, formerly known as Team Sky, has had a dominant presence in the Tour de France, winning seven out of eight editions from 2012 to 2019. The team confirmed that Rozman was initially contacted in April 2025 by the ITA regarding alleged historical communications. They have since commissioned a review by an external law firm and are assessing the circumstances.
In July, the Irish Independent reported that Rozman had exchanged messages with convicted German doping doctor Mark Schmidt in 2012. A documentary by German TV company ARD also linked Ineos to Schmidt but did not identify the staff member involved. Schmidt was sentenced in 2021 for administering illegal blood transfusions to athletes across various sports as part of Operation Aderlass.
The ITA has stated that its investigations are conducted confidentially and that outcomes will only be shared if they result in the pursuit of one or more anti-doping rule violations. Ineos has a history of sharing knowledge and staff across its various sporting endeavors. In June, Sir Dave Brailsford, the director of sport for Ineos, scaled back his involvement with Manchester United but has since returned to a key position at the cycling team.
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