Ullrich, Basso out of Tour de France

Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso were withdrawn from the Tour de France yesterday after they were named in a doping investigation in Spain, robbing cycling's world famous race of two of its biggest names.

German Ullrich, who won the Tour in 1997, Spaniard Oscar Sevilla and Belgian team manager Rudy Pevenage were banned after their German T-Mobile team were notified by race organisers ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) of their naming in the probe.

The CSC team withdrew Italy's Basso, winner of the Giro d'Italia race in May, after Tour director Christian Prudhomme said all 21 teams had decided unanimously to ban those named in the investigation from the race which starts today.

Following the retirement of seven times winner Lance Armstrong, Ullrich and Basso were considered among the favourites to win the Tour.

The doping scandal erupted last month after the Spanish Civil Guard raided a number of addresses to find large quantities of anabolic steroids, laboratory equipment used for blood transfusions and more than 100 packs of frozen blood.

Earlier yesterday, ASO announced it was in possession of a list of more than 50 riders involved in the probe after being handed a 37-page document by the Spanish Cycling Federation.

On Monday, Ullrich and Pevenage had issued strong denials about their involvement in possibly the biggest doping scandal in cycling since the Festina affair in 1998.

"At first we had no reason to doubt the riders' statements. Therefore, we couldn't make any decision merely based on speculations, rumours and guesses," said Christian Frommert, director of sports communication for T-Mobile International.

"This situation has now changed profoundly. Accordingly we will now live up to our responsibility towards making cycling a clean sport."

Organisers congratulated T-Mobile on their bravery in tackling doping, which has dogged cycling for years.

"I think this is normal. I think it is a brave move and a good example sent to the other sport directors. Today, we can do only one thing: be brave," Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc said .

T-Mobile said Ullrich and Sevilla would be replaced in the Tour by German Stephan Schreck and Italian Lorenzo Bernucci. However, Prudhomme said Ullrich and Sevilla could not be replaced.

Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who has worked with a number of cycling teams, and Jose Luis Merino, the head of a clinical analysis laboratory, were released on bail after being questioned by Spanish police.