FRANCE: RICHARD VIRENQUE IS ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE RACE AFTER LAST YEARS POSITIVE DRUG TESTS

Record ID: 584687

  • Title: FRANCE: RICHARD VIRENQUE IS ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE RACE AFTER LAST YEARS POSITIVE DRUG TESTS
  • Date: 29th June 1999
  • Summary: VARIOUS, FRANCE (RECENT, 1999) (ALL REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) LILLE, FRANCE (APRIL 19, 1999) 1. RICHARD VIRENQUE BOARDING EUROSTAR TRAIN AND REFUSING TO SPEAK WITH REPORTERS PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 16, 1999) 2. (SOUNDBITE) (French) TOUR DE FRANCE DIRECTOR JEAN MARIQUE LEBLANC SAYS: "In effect, since last July Virenque resumes in his image the doping phenomen. If he is responsible or not for this situation is not up to us to tell. His presence in the Tour (of France) is incompatible with the image and reputation of the event we want to preserve" LILLE, FRANCE (MAY 10, 1999) 3. VIRENQUE ARRIVING FOR COURT HEARING MOBBED BY REPORTERS PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 15, 1999) 4. VIRENQUE ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE 5. VIRENQUE PRESENTED AS NEW RIDER OF THE POLTI TEAM BY OWNER FRANCO POLTI 6. PHOTOGRAPHERS 7. VIRENQUE POSING HOLDING NEW TEAM SHIRT ALONGSIDE FRANCO POLTI 8. CUTAWAY PRESS 9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) VIRENQUE SPEAKING 1999 BAN DECISION SAYS: "I am in the Tour since 1989 and I hope to participate as long as I am in good conditions, we will see, I expect to be selected, I don't think the problem is here this one (of selection) but I really hope from deep in heart, the Tour is my reason to live" 10. CUTAWAY PHOTOGRAPHERS 11. VIRENQUE AND POLTI SPOING WITH NEW SHIRT Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th July 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FRANCE, LILLE ,PARIS
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVACD2B0OXAZPWB9QA3C06M9DUA6
  • Story Text: The International Cycling Union (UCI) ordered Tour de
    France organisers to allow Richard Virenque, whose team were
    barred last year for doping, to take part in this year's race.

    The International Cycling Union (UCI) ordered Tour de
    France organisers on Tuesday (June 29) to allow Richard
    Virenque, whose team were barred last year in a doping
    scandal, to take part in this year's race.

    Virenque was not invited to ride in this year's Tour,
    which starts on Saturday (July 3), because organisers feared
    his presence would harm the Tour's image.

    The Frenchman's Festina team were thrown out of last
    year's Tour after banned drugs were found in a team car,
    triggering the biggest scandal cycling history.

    Virenque has steadfastly denied taking banned substances.

    The UCI said that after hearing from Virenque and Tour de
    France director Jean-Marie Leblanc, its disciplinary
    commission had overturned a decision taken by Tour organisers
    on June 16 to exclude the rider from the 1999 Tour.

    When he announced the list of teams and riders invited to
    race, Leblanc said the Tour was a private organisation and its
    promoters were free to invite whomever they wanted.

    "The rider Richard Virenque is not welcome on the Tour.

    His participation is not compatible with the image and the
    reputation of the Tour," Leblanc said.

    The UCI added, in a later statement, that it applauded
    Tour de France organisers' efforts to fight the use of
    performance-enhancing drugs but was required to follow
    regulations and was forced to hold up the appeal launched by
    Virenque and his new Polti team.

    Virenque, four times King of the Mountains on the Tour,
    joined Italian team Polti at the start of this season.

    Tour organisers, eager to restore the race's image after
    last year's scandal, decided to bar all riders and teams
    currently involved in doping cases from racing in this year's
    event.

    Organisers also decided against inviting Dutch team TVM,
    who left the race last year in Switzerland shortly after their
    hotel was raided by French police in another doping probe.

    Manolo Saiz, director of Spanish team ONCE, was also asked
    to stay at home even though his team was invited.

    "Saiz made insulting comments about the Tour last year and
    decided to leave the race in unacceptable conditions," Leblanc
    said.

    ONCE doctor Nicolas Terrados, who was briefly held after
    the team hotel was raided and illegal substances were seized
    on the Tour last year, was also ruled out.

    Two French riders, Philippe Gaumont and Laurent Roux,
    currently suspended for doping, were also barred.

    Virenque has been testifying in the investigations by a
    French court in Lille and has singed to the Polti teamn in
    January, when he said that he was hoping to compete in this
    year Tour de France.

    "I am in the Tour since 1989 and I hope to participate
    as long as I am in good conditions, we will see, I expect to
    be selected, I don't think the problem is here this one (of
    selection) but I really hope from deep in heart, the Tour is
    my reason to live", said at the time the four times King of
    the Mountains, who has always denied taking banned substances.

    Tour de France organisers went into a crisis meeting on
    Tuesday after cycling's world body UCI decision to order them
    to include Frenchman Richard Virenque, who they had banned
    from this year's race, four days before the start.

    French radio and television said Leblanc was not keen to
    go back on his decision and was under no obligation to do so
    as the Tour de France Society which organises the race was a
    private body.


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