French doctors threatening to boycott Le Tour

Doctors might boycott the start of the Tour de France next month unless they get clear instructions on which drugs are allowed and which are banned.

The medicine bag for a competition like the Tour de France can contain as many as 300 different products.

"We would like to have official authorisation that tells us which products we can transport, and in what quantities," Gerard Guillaume, doctor for the team La Francaise des Jeux, said.

Yvon Sanquer, president of the French Professional Cycling League, said not having doctors would be a mistake and would mean athletes might medicate themselves.

Doctors, pharmacists and representatives from the French Sports Ministry are expected to address the issue at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday at the Drug Abuse Prevention Board.