No threat to Olympic cycling

2008-08-18 10:04

Beijing - The president of cycling's governing body on Monday insisted that the doping problems in his sport did not threaten its place in the Olympics.

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, John Fahey, suggested earlier that cycling and weightlifting had to clean up their acts or risk being tossed from the Olympics.

UCI president Pat McQuaid said: "It isn't Mr Fahey's job to decide who is in the Olympic programme.

"Up to now we've always had support from the IOC and, in particular, from the president, Jacques Rogge."

McQuaid said it was not the UCI that was involved in doping, but individual riders.

Cyclists using new substance

"Why should the UCI or the sport of cycling be thrown out of the Olympic Games? We saw wonderful road races in a wonderful setting. We're watching magnificent track racing. Cycling brings a huge amount to the Olympic Games," he said.

Asked if there should be lifetime bans for riders where evidence suggests doping over prolonged periods, McQuaid said that was not possible yet.

McQuaid added that he was pleased to see that drug-testers recently caught cyclists using a new substance.

New version of blood booster

"I think it's a very, very strong message to the rest of the peloton that you don't listen to the quasi-doctors who tell you this product is undetectable," he said.

Riccardo Ricco of Italy was expelled from the Tour de France after testing positive for CERA, a new version of the blood booster EPO. Another Italian, Emanuele Sella, who dominated the climbs in the Tour of Italy earlier in the season, also failed an out-of-competition test.

- AP