Minister urges quicker decisions on implicated cyclists

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky has urged the Spanish Cycling Federation to speed up its decision-making process over the cyclists implicated in a continuing doping investigation.

"I have told the federation that it isn't good to keep those cyclists implicated in limbo," Lissavetzky said in an interview with sports daily AS on Tuesday.

"It is up to them to decide on and give out the punishments where appropriate, and free the others from suspicion. They can't put off the decisions to defend their own."

The names of over 50 professional cyclists were included in a report put together by Spain's Civil Guard after a series of raids linked to doping in sport in May.

The Spanish government has passed on a copy of the investigation, codenamed Operacion Puerto, to cycling's governing bodies explaining that doping was not yet a criminal offence in Spain.

"The judge allowed the release of copies of the report on June 29 saying doping was not a criminal offence in Spain but that offences against public health were," Lissavetzky said.

"As a result, I have said I will continue to tackle the legal ramifications and the sporting issues must be taken up by the sports administrators. Cycling should sort it out."

The Spanish government has approved a draft law which proposes tough new anti-doping measures and is working toward implementing them.

Lissavetzky said the government would not ease up in its efforts to take on doping in sport but would look to help cycling where possible.

"We are not after the cyclists but the mafias who control doping. We support cycling but will not turn a blind eye to what is happening," Lissavetzky added.

"Operacion Puerto was necessary and is not the cause of the problems afflicting cycling. I have said I would like there to be an international summit for cycling to discuss all the issues.. not only those of doping.

"Some cyclists have thanked us for what we are doing and asked us to continue the fight, as have the fans in the street."