UCI to conduct extensive review

The UCI is to conduct a wide-ranging review in an effort to clean up the sport after a series of doping scandals, the head of the cycling's world governing body said in an interview published yesterday.

UCI president Pat McQuaid said he was shocked and angry when he found out about Tour de France winner Floyd Landis's positive doping test for testosterone, particularly as he believed the disqualification of riders before the start of the race would dissuade others.

"We're going to proceed with an audit of the professional level to try to define the causes of this illness," McQuaid told the Swiss weekly L'Illustre.

"We will call on the biggest specialists in the world to make this study credible. All the elements will be taken into account: the structures of the teams, the calendar, the length of courses, accumulation of evidence, number of rest days."

He also revealed that depending on the results of the investigation, UCI could change all its rules and working methods from the 2008 season onwards.

"The Landis case, in this consideration, carries a clear and strong message for those who have the intelligence to decode it.

"For the UCI, the time for easy excuses or for forgiveness is past. It's all-out war against doping," he said.

Graham's attorney seeks to overturn ban

Coach Trevor Graham's lawyer called on the US Olympic Committee (USOC) to overturn a ban prohibiting the trainer of Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin from using USOC facilities.

"Given the polygraph result confirming Trevor's truthfulness in stating that he has not been involved in the distribution of illicit substances, we call on the USOC to lift its restriction on Trevor," said attorney Joseph Zeszotarski.

The USOC ban followed a positive test by Gatlin for the male sex hormone testosterone. Gatlin, who has previously tested positive for a stimulant, is now facing a lifetime ban.

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said the ban would stand.

"We are not reversing or reconsidering our decision," Seibel said.

"Access to our training facilities is a privilege, not a right."

The USOC announced last week it was banning Graham from its training centres and other facilities.

The action was taken "based on the unusual number of athletes he has coached who have been convicted of doping offences," USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said.