May 16, 2003 – The President of the UCI, Hein Verbruggen, attended the large “SportAccord Convention” this week which for the first time brought together representatives of the Executive Committee of the IOC, the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and its winter sports counterpart (AWOIF).

More than 1,000 people participated in a series of conferences debating the principal tools required to meet the rapid changes taking place in the sports market.

More specific themes such as the place of sport in society, TV broadcasting, sponsoring, and the organisation and hosting of a sporting events were examined.

The next SportAccord Convention will take place in May 2004 in Lausanne (SUI).

The Swiss and Brazilian Cycling Federations at the World Cycling Centre (WCC)

Riders from Swiss Cycling in the national BMX team will train this weekend on the BMX track at the WCC, reputed to be one of the most technical in the world. The MTB group from the Brazilian Federation is in the Aigle region to prepare for its participation in the 1st heat of the UCI MTB World Cup which will take place in St Wendel (GER) on 24 and 25 May 2003. Their month-long European stay will also take them to Great Britain to contest the 2 nd heat of the UCI World Cup in Fort William.

Athletes from the World Cycling Centre in St-Wendel The MTB group from the WCC, coached by Chantal Daucourt, will also take part in the UCI World Cups; for some of the athletes, this will be their first competition in the Elite category.

Last race in the 2003 UCI Track World Cup

 The last race in the 2003 UCI Track World Cup will take place this weekend in Sydney at the magnificent Dunc Gray Velodrome. Mr. Ray Godkin, Vice President of the UCI, President of the Oceanian Cycling Confederation and President of the UCI Track Commission, will award the 2003 UCI Track World Cup to the best nation in the general classification. Trainees from the WCC in the Magné and Gisiger teams will be taking part in this major event.

Anti-Doping Commission News – Christophe LAURENT, sanctioned by the Fédération Française de Cyclisme, disqualification of Tour de l'Avenir (FRA), 12 September 2002, suspension of 6 months from 1 st October 2002 to 24 March 2003. – Eduard BOGAERT, sanctioned by the Royale Ligue Vélocipédique Belge, disqualification of Triptyque Ardennais (BEL), 25 May 2002, and Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo (BEL), 9 June 2002, suspension of one year including 6 months of deferment, so an actual suspension from 1 st February 2003 to 1st August 2003. – Constantino ZABALLA GUTIERREZ, sanctioned by the Real Federación Española de Ciclismo, warning, time of the rider increased with 1% in stage of 9 June 2002 in the Euskal Bizikleta – Bicicleta Vasca (ESP). – Stève FOGEN, sanctioned by the Fédération du Sport Cycliste Luxembourgeois (decision confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport the 24 January 2003), disqualification of Tour du Luxembourg (LUX), 2 June 2002, and Luxemburg Championships (LUX), 30 June 2002, suspension of one year including 6 months of deferment, so an actual suspension from 12 July 2002 to 11 January 2003 and fine of CHF

March 21, 2003 – Erwin Vervecken, Belgian cyclo-cross specialist, World Champion in Tabor in 2001, has been nominated as member of the UCI cyclo-cross Commission.

Andreï Tchmil joins the UCI as external consultant in charge of relations with Easter Europe National Federations. His mission will consist in participating to activities held by the Moscow Continental Centre notably to restructure the national training Centres and for young riders of these countries. The Italian Federation organised a training preparation course for riders registered in the track World Cup. This course took place on March 10, 12 and 13 at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle.

The annual Olympic Solidarity's trainer's seminar took place from March 18 to 20 at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle. This seminar notably enabled an evaluation of the quality of training seminars given to national trainers in developing countries and to coordinate actions in this domain with Managers of Continental Centres in China, Japan and countries of the ex-USSR. The UCI 2003-2004 cyclo-cross World Cup will count six events. The calendar already scheduled the races of St. Wendel (GER), Wetzikon (SUI), Koksijde (BEL), Nommay (FRA)and Pijnaker (NED). The series will start on October 26 with the new event in Torino (IT).

Three major events will mark this end of week: the second leg of the track World Cup in Aguascalientes (MEX) from Friday to Sunday, the Primavery Rosa, second event of the women's road World Cup and Milan-San Remo, and the opening race of the men road World Cup on Saturday.

All information on competitions can be viewed on our website: www.uci.ch

Stefan RUCKER, sanctioned by Oesterreichischer Radsport Verband, disqualification of Int. Oberösterreich GP (AUT), 31.08.2002 and 01.09.2002, suspension of 6 months from 22 October 2002 to 22 June 2003 and fine of CHF 1'000.-.

Ramon MARTIN PAZ, sanctioned by Real Federación Española de Ciclismo, disqualification of Vuelta Ciclista Comunidad de Madrid (ESP), 11.05.2002, suspension of 2 years from 7 November 2002 to 6 November 2004.

Cassio FREITAS PAIVA, sanctioned by Confederaçao Brasileira de Ciclismo, disqualification of Volta Ciclistica de Santa Catarina (BRA), 06.09.2002, suspension of 2 years from 4 December 2002 to 3 December 2004.