Katusha anti-doping clause: McEwen clarifies

After earlier reports of Team Katusha's new anti-doping contract clause being refused by Robbie McEwen and two other teammates, the Australian has issued a statement clarifying his position.

"I am not against an addendum to my contract with Katusha in relation to anti-doping as such," said McEwen on his website, adding that he was merely examining the new clause under legal aspects before wanting to sign them.

The addendum states that riders will have to pay a fine of five times their annual salary in the event of a sanction given for doping offenses.

"I have been legally advised that the terms of the addendum to the contract are not judicially correct as well as being too vague and broad in their definition of what constitutes a breach, as there is no reference to existing official anti-doping guidelines."

"I fully support the principles behind the anti-doping stance of my team and when the issues concerning the details of the addendum are clarified, I will add my weight to the Katusha Team campaign."

He also stated that contrary to what had been reported, a number of other riders of his team had not yet signed the new contract clause. "Andrei Tchmil claims that except for [Gert] Steegmans, McEwen and [Kenny] De Haes everyone else has signed which is actually not true," he said. "A number of other riders have not signed the annex including Toni Colom and Joan Horrach."

McEwen is currently healing a knee injury, hoping to come back to racing in the second half of the season.  (HK)