Road Race Diverted By Drugs Row

As the world road race championships opened today in Stuttgart, a storm was brewing around Paolo Bettini, the holder of the prestigious men's elite title, and Alejandro Valverde, last year's bronze medalist in the elite event, which is the climax of the championships on Sunday.

The president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Pat McQuaid, yesterday attacked the world champion Italian for his unwillingness to sign the anti-doping charter published just before the Tour de France by his organization. All cyclists in this year's Tour signed the letter.

"Bettini hasn't signed and I'm very embarrassed and very angry," said McQuaid. "To be honest I'm just as angry at the Italian Cycling Federation, who said they would not ask their riders to sign, and with the Spaniards who have done the same."

McQuaid said Bettini had attempted to sign a modified version of the letter, which states the signatory is not involved in any ongoing doping inquiries, and that in the event of a positive drugs test he will surrender a year's salary to the UCI. Bettini is understood to be unhappy with the latter clause, as in his view it might penalize cyclists who fail a drugs test in a year when their salary is higher than usual.

Today, the Court for Arbitration in Sport is expected to rule in the case of Valverde, at the center of a dispute between the UCI and the Spanish Cycling Federation. The UCI asked the Spaniards to begin disciplinary proceedings against Valverde on the grounds they had information that might link him to the drugs inquiry Operation Puerto. He denies all involvement.