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Spanish cyclists 'quit' in protest
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSMADRID, Spain -- Cyclists competing in the road race at the Spanish national championships have dismounted and returned to their hotels in protest at a newspaper report that accused nearly 60 riders of doping. The riders had covered about 3km. Their anger was sparked by Sunday's El Pais newspaper which published extracts of a supposedly-secret judical investigation into doping. The report said cyclists had taken part in systematic doping, according to El Pais, six days before the start of the Tour de France. The Spanish Cycling Federation said it was looking at taking legal action "over damage caused by leaks ... from a judicial summary that, until now, was secret". Jose Rodriguez, head of Spain's Professional Cyclists Association, said the newspaper report tarnished all his members' reputations. "Again, our union has been shaken with generalised accusations, putting all riders under suspicion. Professional cyclists support the fight against doping," he said. Earlier this month, Manolo Saiz, sporting director at the team formerly known as Liberty Seguros, stepped down after police detained him for questioning in what newspapers have labelled Spain's biggest anti-doping probe. Police have raided a number of addresses and found a large quantity of medical supplies, such as anabolic steroids, as well as more than 100 frozen packs of blood, under Operation Port. The Spanish government has said it is determined to crack down on doping in sport and has passed a draft law which will make it an offence for professional athletes to use, or be supplied with, banned substances. 
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