German media giants ARD, the number-one broadcasters, and fellow national television channel ZDF announced they will not cover the Tour de France again because of recent cases of failed drugs testing.

Professional cycling suffered a Black Thursday here when organisers announced the scrapping of the 2009 Tour of Germany the same day broadcasters pulled the plug on covering next year's Tour de France.

Austria's Bernhard Kohl, the best climber at this year's Tour de France and third overall, has been sacked by his Belgian team Silence after testing positive for CERA, the new generation of banned blood booster EPO.

Austria's Bernhard Kohl, the best climber at this year's Tour de France and third overall, admitted Wednesday to using Cera, the new generation of banned blood booster EPO.

Austria's Bernhard Kohl will be the "seventh and last" positive doping case from this year's Tour de France, according to sports daily L'Equipe.

Austria's Bernhard Kohl, the best climber at this year's Tour de France and third overall, has tested positive for third-generation drug EPO Cera, France's national anti-doping agency (AFLD) said.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has come in for some harsh criticism after bending its own rules to allow American star Lance Armstrong to return to professional cycling at the Tour Down Under.

Former three-time yellow jersey champion Greg Lemond has played down the anti-doping efficiency of self-policing by cycling teams - and says Lance Armstrong must do more if he is to prove he is 100 percent clean.

Credit Agricole rider Dmitriy Fofonov has been handed a three-month ban after testing positive for a banned stimulant at the Tour de France, it was reported by www.cyclismag.com.

Seven-time Tour de France Lance Armstrong was on Wednesday cleared to race in the 2009 Tour Down Under in Australia, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced.

French national anti-doping agency (AFLD) chief Pierre Bordry on Wednesday said there was "considerable evidence" of doping irregularities from blood transfusions taken at this year's Tour de France.

Blood samples taken at the Beijing Olympics are to be reanalysed for the banned blood booster EPO using a new detection system developed for the Tour de France, the IOC announced Wednesday.

Double Tour de France stage winner Stefan Schumacher is facing a two-year ban and a fine after confirmation of a positive test for EPO (erythrpoietin), the German cycling federation (BDR) said.

Leading German cyclist Stefan Schumacher, a double stage winner on this year's Tour de France, has tested positive for doping, his Gerolsteiner team confirmed on Monday.

German cyclist Stefan Schumacher, a double stage winner at this year's Tour de France, has tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin), according to L'Equipe website on Monday.

Italian cyclist Leonardo Piepoli is facing a ban from the sport after the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced Monday he tested positive for banned substances twice at this year's Tour de France.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong hit back Saturday at insinuations he sullied cycling's premier event, saying he reigned over the race when the sport's popularity was at a peak.

The battle against doping will remain a priority for the organisers of the Tour de France, according to Jean-Etienne Amaury, the new president of the race's parent company Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO).

The new president of the Tour de France's parent company Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), Jean-Etienne Amaury, has welcomed the news of seven-time winner Lance Armstrong's return to the sport.

A comeback by one of sport's biggest legends is usually the stuff dreams are made of. But less than two weeks after announcing his return to professional cycling after a three-year hiatus, Tour de France icon Lance Armstrong continues to attract a mix of plaudits and criticism.