 Landis tested positive for drugs during the Tour de France |
Cycling's professional teams have agreed to drastic new measures aimed at stamping out drug cheats in the sport. The move comes after a summer of doping allegations, including Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' positive test.
The International Professional Cycling Teams body (IPCT) on Saturday accepted new changes to the UCI Pro Tour rules.
An IPCT statement said a team would be forced to "automatically suspend its activity," in the event of repeated positive or suspicious doping tests.
A controversial proposal to test cyclists blood samples up to 30 minutes before the start of races is also being studied.
 | It's just not acceptable a team can accumulate an impressive number of doping problems without facing any kind of sanction Credit Agricole team manager Roger Legeay |
Currently International Cycling Union (UCI) rules state that if a cyclist returns an abnormal test result, only the rider - not the team - are suspended while a B sample test is carried out. But, as of January 2007, teams will automatically suspend themselves if one or several of their riders tests positive or returns a suspicious reading.
And under the new rules the following procedures will apply:
Following a first warning and a UCI hearing, teams would be obliged to pull out of competition for a minimum of eight days if two positive doping tests, after confirmation with the B sample, or suspicious readings emerge inside a period of 12 months. Three positive doping tests inside two years would lead to suspension from all Pro Tour races for a month. The same rule will apply with abnormal blood readings. The IPCT has also requested that the company which owns the team's Pro Tour licence hands it back immediately if a fourth potential infraction is incurred. Pro Tour team representatives have also asked for the UCI carry out "start line" tests on riders.
Under the current system, blood tests take place early in the morning of a race, leaving a significant window of opportunity for drug-taking prior to the race start.
"It's just not acceptable that a team can accumulate an impressive number of doping problems without facing any kind of sanction," said Credit Agricole team manager Roger Legeay, who also represents professional cycling team during meetings at the Pro Tour council.
Landis won this year's Tour de France but subsequently tested positive for high amounts of testosterone.
The American vehemently denied any wrongdoing but his Swiss team Phonak immediately announced they were pulling out of the sport.
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