In a brief press release, Stuttgart City Council have confirmed that they have lost the case to try and stop Paolo Bettini from racing on Sunday. The World Champion can take part because Stuttgart District Court have ruled that the July anti-doping pledge, which Bettini refused to sign in its entirety, is not legally binding.
?The Lord Mayor of Stuttgart and the Stuttgart Mayor [Minister] for Sport regret the court?s ruling. The city will accept the decision and will not be taking any further legal steps.? the statement says
?After the ruling we are sticking to our demand the UCI must abide by the Agreement on the Anti-Doping Measure signed on July 26th 2007. Ultimately the question as to whether Paolo Bettini starts or not is not a legal one but it?s about the credibility of cycling.?
?The UCI has to realise themselves what they are signalling when they guarantee Bettini?s start. it?s definitely not the sign of a new beginning.?
The rumours that Bettini was going to be questioned by police were categorically denied by his team. The Italian remained at his team hotel all of Thursday afternoon although he was present at the presentation of the World Championships 2008 in Varese on Thursday evening - along with nearly 1,000 Italian dignitaries, amongst them Gianni Bugno.
2007 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEWS
Bettini cleared to race by Stuttgart courts
McQuaid gives Bettini green light to race
Bettini in Worlds but Di Luca is out
Wiggins and Millar disappointed with TT ride
Bettini denies supplying drugs to Sinkewitz
Valverde can race at World Championships
Eddy Merckx not welcome at Worlds
Cooke out of Worlds, Brailsford names GB squad
British team get extra places for U23 Worlds
Boonen out of Worlds
Should Valverde ride the Worlds?
2007 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS COVERAGE
Cancellara retains World TT title
2007 Road World Championships preview
Elite Men Time Trial: full start list
Elite Women's Time Trial: Pooley takes eighth,
Under-23 Time Trial: Boom takes second world title in 2007
TV guide: World Champs on British Eurosport
TV guide: World Champs on BBC
2007 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PHOTO GALLERIES
Click here to see a gallery of photos of the Elite Men's Time Trial
Elite Women's Time Trial World Championships
Men's Under-23 Time Trial World Championships
2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Champs 2006: Cancellara nets gold in TT
World Champs 2006: Cooke blasts to bronze in Salzburg
EXTERNAL LINKS
Official 2007 Road World Championships website: www.radwm2007.com.
Union Cycliste Internationale: www.uci.ch.
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