Cycling: Sprint cycling team respond to drug allegations

Several members of Australia's track sprint cycling team have issued a statement in an effort to distance themselves from allegations of drug use.

It follows yesterday's announcement by the Sports Minister Rod Kemp of an inquiry into allegations by banned cyclist Mark French against up to six other Australian riders.

In the statement read out this afternoon by Cycling Australia's chief executive officer Graham Fredericks, seven members of the sprint team said they had never tested positive to any banned substance.

"As a group, we are committed to competing drug-free and we are extremely disappointed and angry with ill-informed recent comments and innuendo that have cast a slur on our sport and us as individuals," the statement said.

"We are upset that these unsubstantiated allegations have been treated as fact by the media and several other parties."

Mr Fredericks said he would not reveal if the seven cyclists were among those being investigated by the inquiry.