MILAN, Italy (AP) — High-profile teams Astana and High Road were denied admission to the Giro d'Italia on Friday after a series of doping cases.
Defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden ride for Astana and American cyclist George Hincapie is with High Road, which was formerly T-Mobile.
Race organizers announced an entry list of 21 teams with nine riders each.
All riders will be required to present a biological passport to enter the race which begins in 100 days on May 10, and finishes June 1.
Organizers said they retained the right to withdraw invitations "at any moment" and the selection criteria included "ethics, quality, internationalism and relationship history with (organizer) RCS Sport."
Astana withdrew from last year's Tour after top rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion. The team was also denied an invitation to the Spanish Vuelta.
Deutsche Telekom pulled its sponsorship of High Road in November after former rider Patrik Sinkewitz testified that doping was widespread at the team, both before and after Jan Ullrich was its main star.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2008-02-01-giro-astana-high-road_N.htm
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