Stuttgart refusing to pay money owed to UCI & German federation

In the latest round of the conflict between the Stuttgart and the UCI, officials from the host city of the UCI Road World Championships indicated they would not pay money owed to the UCI because it feels the UCI has not taken sufficient measures against doping.

"We will not hand over taxpayers' money to any organisation that is not fighting seriously against doping," Mayor Wolfgang Schuster told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper according to Eurosport. On the line are 600,000 Euros due to the UCI and 75,000 Euros due to the German Cycling Federation.

UCI President Pat McQuaid did not confirm the remaining amount owed on the organizers' contract, but he say according to Eurosport, "It's been reported that Stuttgart is refusing to pay the third and final installment in the contract with the UCI and I think we can take that as a statement coming from the city. We have a legal contract and we expect it to be adhered to. We'll take whatever steps we can to make sure it is."

Stuttgart's threats are a response to some riders being allowed to compete despite not signing the anti-doping pledge. Defending world champion Paolo Bettini is one such rider. A court overturned a request to ban him from competition at worlds after not signing the official pledge.