UCI will work with Tour to stop doping, says McQuaid

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Paris, Aug 1: UCI head Pat McQuaid sought to play down a dispute with the Tour de France organisers, saying they could eliminate doping in cycling within a few years by working together.

''I think we will have cleaned up the sport in two or three years from now. I believe that firmly,'' McQuaid said, according to printed extracts from a TV interview with EuroNews due to be broadcast today.

The comments of the world body's president follow sharp criticism from the Patrice Clerc, head of Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), who said this week he did not want the UCI involved in next year's Tour de France.

''The organisers have gone through a difficult period on the emotional level,'' McQuaid said. ''I'd like to think that in a few weeks, when everyone has calmed down, they will realise that we all need to work together for the good of the sport.'' The ASO and the UCI have been at odds since 2005 when Tour organisers refused to be part of the UCI Pro-Tour, an elite series of races throughout the year.

The dispute blew up dramatically last month after Danish rider Michael Rasmussen was sacked by his Rabobank team for lying about his training whereabouts and left the Tour when he was in the lead.

Clerc has said the UCI should have stopped Rasmussen from starting and accused the world body of trying deliberately to spoil the Tour by allowing him to race.

Also, three riders, including pre-race favourite Alexander Vinokourov, tested positive for doping, badly tarnishing the image of the sport's biggest race.

McQuaid said the Tour's exceptional status meant some riders were willing to break the rules.

''The Tour de France is the most prestigious race in the world. The riders, and it's especially true for the older ones among them, absolutely want a good result, so they're ready to take risks,'' he said.

''Cycling is a battlefield in the struggle against doping, so it's not surprising that the Tour de France is in the front line. When you have 1,200 media organisations covering the race, the proportions get blown up considerably.

Reuters