FESTINA'S FRENCH CYCLISTS SUSPENDED

PARIS (AP) The French Cycling Federation has handed down bans of 4 1/2
months to three cyclists from the Festina team that was expelled from the
scandal-rocked Tour de France, French television reported Monday.

Laurent Brochard, Christophe Moreau and Didier Roux, who have all admitted
to taking banned drugs, will be prevented from competing until April 30,
LCI television said.

None of the three has raced since the Tour.

The FFC is still examining the cases of Richard Virenque and Pascal Herve,
two cyclists who deny that they knowingly took banned substances.

In September, the Swiss Cycling Federation handed out eight-month bans to
Festina's Swiss riders Alex Zuelle, Laurent Dufaux and Armin Meier
keeping them out of action until the end of May.

But cycling federations have dealt with team officials more severely.

On Friday, the FFC banned Festina's former sporting director Bruno Roussel
and ex-physiotherapist Willy Voet for five and three years respectively for
their part in the Festina doping affair.

Festina was expelled from the Tour de France after Roussel admitted to
systematic use of banned drugs.

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson