BRITISH UNDER-23 SQUAD RIDES DRUG FREE

Britain's Under-23 Academy riders will ride under the '100% ME' banner in 2007 after British Cycling and UK Sport joined forces to create the team. The squad's kit will also bear the logo of Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport's 'I Support Drug-Free Sport' campaign.

Ben Swift, Steve Burke, Jon Bellis, Russell Hampton, Ross Sander, Ian Stannard, Andy Tennant and Alex Dowsett (pictured) made their debut wearing 100% ME jerseys at the Revolution Track Meet in Manchester on Saturday (December 9). As well as competing drug-free, the squad has a commitment to promote fair sport where doping has no place.

?The credibility and reputation of cycling has suffered over the years as a result of high profile doping cases," said Dave Brailsford, Performance Director at British Cycling. "This is unfortunate as it detracts from the huge amount of talent we have at our disposal in the UK, and the hard work, dedication and determination that goes into providing a world-class system for our riders to perform and win medals at the highest level."

?Prohibited substances have no place in our sport and the quicker we can spread that message, the better. Our link up with 100% ME provides a platform for this and will hopefully create some momentum within the sport to change people?s perceptions, and ensure our riders get the credit they deserve for their performances.?

100% ME is UK Sport's campaign aimed at encouraging British athletes from all sports to compete without using performance enhancing drugs. For more information go to www.100percentme.co.uk.

I Support Drug Free Sport is the campaign initiated by Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport magazines that allows fans and competitors to show their support for professional sports in which drug taking is not tolerated. www.isupportdrugfreesport.com.