Cycling: Australian cycling rocked by drugs claims, page 1

Australia has been rocked by allegations that top cyclists preparing for this summer's Olympic Games took performance-enhancing drugs at the country's world-renowned Institute of Sport.

The institute is cited internationally as a leading example of how to rear generations of sporting superstars. However, accusations have been made in the country's parliament that a room in the elite academy in Adelaide was used by cyclists to inject drugs. The five who are implicated in the claims, including two potential gold medalists, face being banned from the games.

The national Olympic committee's president, John Coates, admitted to Australian newspapers yesterday that the implications for the country were enormous. "This must be investigated immediately. I have always said we can't guarantee that everyone is clean, but this will have a very bad impact on Australian sports unless the allegations are found to be baseless." He has sought an assurance from Cycling Australia that anyone nominated for Athens is "suitable to represent Australia".

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