Mapei in the clear

Riders and management of the world's leading cycling team Mapei-Quick Step were cleared yesterday of doping allegations following the discovery of banned amphetamines, a Belgian public prosecutor said.

But an Italian masseur with the Italian-Belgian team was still held in custody in connection with the discovery of five flasks of amphetamines which had been mailed from the riders' hotel to Italy.

The Mapei riders were taken out of the De Panne three-day cycling race earlier and held for questioning.

"I can already state that management of the Mapei group is not involved in this case. The inquiry has made this clear," Belgian public prosecutor Louis Denecker said. "As far as the riders are concerned, they understand the situation very well because it is also important for them that they came out of this without any reproach," he added.

Denecker alleged that the Italian masseur had tried to send the amphetamines to a compatriot who once had ties with Mapei. But he declined to give further details.

The amphetamines were discovered in a video cassette box at Brussels airport.

The team's hotel rooms were also searched by police and urine samples taken.