STUTTGART, Germany, Sep 27 (Reuters) Local organisers of the world championships filed a court injunction today in an attempt to stop Italian cyclist Paolo Bettini taking part.
''This is about the implementation of the anti-doping pledge, which we agreed with the International Cycling Union,'' Susanne Eisenmann, president of the LOC, told reporters.
Bettini, the road race champion, has not signed the anti-doping pledge.
Local organisers also want Danilo Di Luca out of Sunday's road race as the Giro d'Italia winner is involved in a doping investigation in Italy. He denies any involvement in doping.
UCI president Pat McQuaid clarified on Wednesday that the world governing body had no power to enforce riders to sign the pledge, or to prevent those who have not signed taking part.
''I said before the Tour de France as well that the pledge is not a legal document,'' he said. ''We cannot stop riders who don't sign it from taking part.'' ''We have a difference of opinion with the organisers on that. We sent a covering letter with the agreement saying there was nothing that would allow us to go against the rules of the UCI,'' he added.
REUTERS BJR RN1757