WADA reaccredits Seoul lab for steroid analysis
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today in Montreal that it has granted full reaccreditation to the anti-doping laboratory in Seoul, South Korea.

In April 2004, the laboratory was suspended from carrying out steroid analysis for a period of six months, following unsatisfactory performances and non-compliance with WADA’s International Standards for Laboratories.

Since then, the laboratory, in cooperation with the South Korean government, has taken corrective actions. New material has been purchased and additional staff has been hired. The laboratory has also successfully passed all tests posed by WADA to confirm that the required improvements had taken place. As a result, WADA has reaccredited the laboratory for steroid analysis.

“We are very pleased to welcome back the Seoul lab in our group of fully accredited labs,” said Richard W. Pound, WADA’s president. “We must take every measure to ensure that all steps in the doping control process meet our rigorous standards, and the Seoul laboratory has now shown its capacity to meet these requirements. High standards are crucial to maintain athlete and public confidence in sample analysis.”

To date, 33 laboratories have been accredited by WADA throughout the world. The Associated Press

Aussies name top cyclists
Athens Olympic sprint and keirin gold medalist Ryan Bayley was named Australian cyclist of the year at an awards ceremony Friday in Sydney.

The 22-year-old West Australian had an outstanding 2004, winning gold in the sprint and keirin in Athens and taking a bronze medal in the sprint at the world championships in Melbourne in May.

Bayley's recognition comes in an unprecedented year of success for Australian cycling with six Olympic gold medals, 10 Paralympic gold medals and 19 world titles.

Stuart O'Grady, 31, who won a stage of the Tour de France and became the first Australian man to win a round of the prestigious World Cup Series when he sprinted to victory in Hamburg, was named road cyclist of the year.

Anna Meares was named female track cyclist of the year. She became the first woman to ride under 34 seconds for the 500m time trial when she smashed the world record to win gold in Athens.

She added an Olympic bronze in the sprint. Last May she won the 500m time trial world championship and was the silver medallist in the sprint in Melbourne.

Sara Carrigan was named female road cyclist of the year following her success in the Athens Olympic road race. Agence France Presse

Officials hope to match Bayley, Bos
Officials are attempting to arrange match races between two of world track cycling's hottest stars, Australia's Olympic track champion Ryan Bayley and Dutch world champion rival Theo Bos.

Peter Bartels, Cycling Australia patron and Australian Sports Commission chairman, said Friday he had spoken to Bos's coach at the Athens Olympics about the Dutch ace coming to Australia for training and competition.

Bos was one of the stars at the world track championships in Melbourne last May when he last raced in Australia, winning the sprint after beating Bayley in a semi-final.

But Bayley fought back from one heat down to beat Bos 2-1 in the Olympic sprint final at Athens and also won the keirin gold medal with the Dutchman failing to make the podium in that event. Agence France Presse

Teams confirmed for Tour Down Under
Australia's two-time time trial world champion, Michael Rogers, was Thursday confirmed to lead the Quick.Step team in Australia's Tour Down Under in January, organizers said.

Rogers, the 2002 TDU champion, missed this year's event but will return in 2005 with a strong team, including the winner of stage seven of this year's Tour de France, Filippo Pozzato.

Crédit Agricole has confirmed its team with British triple Olympic medalist Bradley Wiggins and four-time Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirsipuu starting their new year in Adelaide.

Wiggins claimed individual pursuit gold, team pursuit silver and Madison bronze at this year's Athens Olympics along with a stage win in the Tour de l'Avenir on the road.

Kirsipuu, the six-time Estonian time trial champion and three-time national road champion, picked up his fourth Tour de France stage win this year when he sprinted to victory on the first stage of the grand tour.

The Crédit Agricole line-up will also include Lazlo Bodrogi, the five-time Hungarian time trial champion and 2000 world championships bronze medalist.

The 2003 Tour Down Under champion Mikel Astarloza heads the AG2R-Prevoyance team, which also includes 2003 Spanish time trial champion Inigo Chaurreau and Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin, who in 2003 was second overall in the Tour de l'Avenir and third in the Dauphine Libere.

The Tour Down Under takes place around Adelaide during January 18-23. Agence France Presse