Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032160501900.htm

Sport - Cycling

No Astana for Tour de France

PARIS: The organisers of the Tour de France announced on Thursday that 20 teams will compete in this year’s race, with defending champion Alberto Contador’s Astana team not among the invited.

The Amaury Sport Organization can invite which teams it wants to participate.

The International Cycling Union, however, wants teams from its ProTour circuit to compete in all major races. ASO has excluded Astana from its races this year because it believes the team has sullied the reputation of the Tour because of doping in the last two years. — AP