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McQuaid: Operación Puerto riders will be ejected from Tour

By AFP
Published: Jun. 28, 2006

Tour de France riders have been warned by cycling's world governing body that they will be thrown out of the race if they are involved in the Spanish doping scandal.

Union Cycliste Internationale president Pat McQuaid has written to all ProTour teams suggesting they ask their riders competing in the Tour de France, which begins Saturday, to provide a written statement saying they are not involved in the affair, known as "Operación Puerto."

"If a false statement is given,” McQuaid said, “they would immediately leave the team and pay a large fine and those riders who refuse to give a statement would be replaced.

"If the UCI were to receive official information during the race, it would ask for the immediate withdrawal of any rider involved and that they should not compete until the end of the disciplinary process."

He added the UCI would work as closely as they could with Spanish authorities in this matter. Spanish police have been investigating an alleged blood-boosting service for athletes, including professional cyclists.

Communidad Valenciana sporting director Jose Ignacio Labarta and Astana team manager Manolo Sáiz were arrested last month, along with a doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, accused of running a blood-boosting service. Both Labarta and Sáiz were quickly released from custody but the Tour de France later withdrew Communidad Valenciana's wildcard invitation.

A decision on whether Astana will be allowed to compete will be given by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday.

Meanwhile the international professional riders association CPA has asked for a joint discussion with the UCI, team representatives and Tour organizers to analyze the causes of the problem and to find appropriate solutions.

"We disagree with the prejudices of certain organizations and people who judge professional cyclists on information found exclusively in the press," the CPA said in a statement issued Wednesday.