UCI rejects WADA

UCI vows to exclude WADA over leaked report By ERICA BULMAN, AP Sports Writer September 24, 2003

GENEVA (AP) -- The International Cycling Union vowed to exclude the World Anti-Doping Agency from
upcoming races for leaking a confidential report about the Tour de France.

The UCI said it did not get the chance to study and amend what it said was ``inaccurate points'' in
the report before it was published in the French sports daily L'Equipe on Monday.

The UCI demanded WADA open an official investigation to how the report was released.

``You don't publish a confidential document,'' UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani said. ``We want to know
the reasons documents are continually being leaked and most regularly in France.''

WADA denied leaking the report and said it was provided to as a courtesy before the expected
official release on Tuesday.

The WADA said David Howman, the organization's director general had spoken to UCI president Hein
Verbruggen.

``Until this is resolved WADA will not be invited to any UCI cycling races,'' Carpani said. ``For
now there will be no more WADA observers.''

WADA president **** Pound, a senior International Olympic Committee member, said future cooperation
between the groups was crucial to combatting drug use in cycling.

``We want to continue to work with UCI to reduce the impact of performance-enhancing drugs in that
sport,'' Pound said. ``I am confident we can work together again at future Tours.''

Cycling has been hit by a series of doping scandals since 1998, when the Tour de France was nearly
derailed after doping agents were found in a car belonging to the Festina team.

The WADA was set up following the scandal to help clean up sports worldwide.

The UCI is one of only a few sports that has yet to sign the WADA's world anti-doping charter.