One of France's top cyclists, Richard Virenque -- one of the riders at the centre of this year's Tour de France doping scandal -- has confirmed he plans to leave the sport.

In a statement, to the French agency, AFPVirenque -- who has always maintained he never took banned drugs -- says he's leaving his career with work unfinished.

He was a member of the Festina team whose masseur was arrested before the start of the last Tour de France.

His team car was found to be loaded with illegal drugs.