Drugs Row Overshadows World Championships

As if to prove that doping's corrosive effects go far beyond positive tests, the world road championships here descended into a bitter disagreement between local politicians and the sport's governing body, the International Cycling Union, over whether the elite world champion, Paolo Bettini, should be allowed to defend his title in Sunday's flagship race.

Stuttgart's sports minister, Susanne Eisemann, said the host city intended to start legal proceedings against the ICU if Bettini was permitted to start the race in spite of his refusal to sign the ICU's anti-doping charter.

Pat McQuaid, the ICU president, said Eisemann "had not spoken the truth" in stating that the document had a bearing on whether a cyclist could start the world championships, and added that in his view the city was "trying to find a way out" of paying the ICU for the privilege of hosting the event.

Bettini has said he supports the document in principle but is against a clause that stipulates riders must pay a fine equal to one year's salary if they fail a drugs test. McQuaid responded by stating that while he was against Bettini's failure to sign up, the ICU had no legal power to prevent him from racing as the document had no such force.

Adding to the day's drama was the withdrawal last night of Danilo Di Luca. The Giro d'Italia winner was protesting his innocence after the Italian Olympic Committee called for him to be banned for four months.

Britain's best medal hopes, David Millar and Bradley Wiggins, meanwhile, both fell short yesterday in the 44km solo time-trial, with Wiggins, pictured, taking 10th, 2min 10sec behind the Swiss Fabian Cancellara, winner of this year's Tour de France time-trial in London. Millar was well off the pace in 18th.