Anti-doping chief targets Tour scandals

Published on Friday 27 July 2007 12:09

THE World Anti-Doping Agency believe a watershed meeting is required to address the "obviously insufficient" measures under which drugs issues have yet again shamed the Tour de France.

WADA president Dick Pound insists a meeting is needed to restore cycling's credibility.

His remarks follow a series of scandals which have rocked this year's Tour de France - a race plagued by doping revelations ever since the 1998 race and the so-called Festina affair.

In a statement issued by WADA, Pound said: "Without commenting on the specifics of pending cases, WADA is deeply concerned by the multiplication of doping cases and affairs in cycling."

Following the sacking of then race leader Michael Rasmussen by his team Rabobank for "lying about his whereabouts" to them and anti-doping authorities, Alberto Contador took over the yellow jersey after stage 17 yesterday, which was won by Italian Daniele Bennati. Pound, meanwhile, was making it clear urgent and significant action is required to try to end the scourge of drugs cheats.

"Even recent initiatives taken by cycling authorities, such as a pledge against doping and increased pressure, are obviously insufficient to deter some riders from cheating," he said.

Even before Rasmussen was dispatched, pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov and Italian rider Cristian Moreni were thrown out of the event after failing dope tests - with their respective teams, Astana and Cofidis, also leaving the race.

"WADA will officially contact the parties involved in the next few days to offer to hold this summit," said WADA director-general David Howman.

"Because WADA is an independent international body and has a structure which is an equal partnership between the sports movement and governments of the world, we are uniquely positioned to co-ordinate the fight against doping and bring together the strengths and resources of all of these partners involved."