DRUGS SCANDAL RIDERS BARRED FROM TOUR

ITALIAN team Polti's French rider Richard Virenque - at the centre of
last year's Tour de France drugs scandal - has been barred from this
year's race. Two further French cyclists and the Dutch TVM team, as
well as the director of Spanish outfit ONCE, have also been excluded.

The action of the Tourorganisers may cause further withdrawals, with
France's world No1 Laurent Jalabert already pulling out apparently in
support of the banned ONCE director.

Hein Verbruggen, president of the world governing body, the
International Cycling Union, said he understood the position of the
Tour organisers. However, he added: "I regret the consequences that
will follow in reviving controversy and potential judicial processes."

Virenque was the leader of the disgraced Festina team expelled from
the Tour after its masseur Willy Voet was arrested with a car-boot
full of drugs.

Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc said: "Richard Virenque is not
welcome at this year's Tour. According to the evidence his presence is
incompatible to the image and reputation of the event."

The 1997 Tour runner-up and four-times King of the Mountains, Virenque
has been charged by magistrates over the drugs debacle, and is
embroiled in a second police investigation.