Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke is to launch an appeal over his six-month drugs ban at the Sports Arbitration Tribunal (TAS) in Lausanne, the Belgian news agency reported on Monday. The ban was handed down by the country's cycling federation after a police raid in February on the 27-year-old's home discovered banned substances such as blood-boosting EPO, anabolic steroid Clenbuterol and morphine.

That raid came a day after his French physiotherapist Bernard Sainz was also charged with possession of illegal substances after a large quantity of amphetamines and syringes were found in the boot of his car.

On March 21, the Belgian federation suspended Vandenbroucke for six months and fined him €6950 ($5760).

Copyright AFP2002