Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / CYCLING
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Cycling Contents:  Get Involved

10:25 GMT, Friday, 18 July 2008 11:25 UK

Cavendish backs doping crackdown

Mark Cavendish celebrates winning his third stage of this year's Tour de France

Britain's Mark Cavendish has expressed his satisfaction that cycling's drug cheats in continue to be exposed.

His third win in this year's Tour de France came after hours after Riccardo Ricco was named as the third rider to fail a test for the blood booster EPO.

Cavendish said: "Cycling's a passion, and maybe people who resort to doping don't have the same passion as me.

"I'm in the sport I love, which I don't want tarnished. It's good that the tests are working."

Italy's Ricco - himself a two-stage winner in this year's Tour - produced a positive sample after the time-trial stage at Cholet on 8 July.

It prompted his Saunier Duval team to withdraw from the race, despite being given permission by Tour organisers Amaury Sports Organisation to continue.

606: DEBATE
"Cavendish in green in Paris?"
finchmeister

After his latest victory, Cavendish, 23, warned that despite the deterrents, some riders are still prepared to risk doping.

"I think you're always going to get people who think they can cheat the system, whether it's in cycling, another sport or business," said the Isle of Man sprint specialist.

In winning Thursday's stage in Narbonne, Cavendish became the first Briton to win three times in the Tour, surpassing another sprinter, Barry Hoban, who won two stages in both 1969 and 1973.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Cavendish win makes Tour history (17 Jul 08 |  Cycling )
Stage 12 as it happened (17 Jul 08 |  Cycling )
Tour 'winning war against doping' (17 Jul 08 |  Cycling )
Cavendish claims second stage win (12 Jul 08 |  Cycling )
Cavendish claims maiden stage win (09 Jul 08 |  Cycling )
Spanish rider Nevado fails test (16 Jul 08 |  Cycling )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Tour de France 2008
International Cycling Union
British Cycling
Cycling on the BBC
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Cycling Contents:  Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©