The Festina cycling team, expelled from this year's Tour de France over its organised doping practice, has offered to donate four million French francs (about £500,000) to help clean up the drug problem within the sport.

After a complete reshuffle of the team's management, the new director sportif Juan Rodriguez made the decision as part of Festina's commitment to a "fresh, clean start in rebuilding for the future".

"Festina has decided to intervene in a more active manner and to be more careful on these sensitive matters," said Rodriguez. "The company will take the money from its sponsorship budget to bolster the struggle against doping."

Festina has also promised to increase doping controls on its team riders, hiring Dr Gerard Dine of the French Sports Anti-Doping Commission to head the new medical staff. Dr Dine is also president of the Biotechnology Institute at Troyes and, according to the Festina director, "is committed to keeping the riders drug free".

Last month the Spanish watch company announced rider salary cuts of 50 per cent or more, convincing Swiss riders Laurant Dufaux and Alex Zuelle to accept better contracts elsewhere. Top French riders Richard Virenque and Pascal Herve were less lucky, unable to secure new offers which meant staying with Festina despite salary cuts of over 60 per cent.

Sales of Festina watches, however, have not suffered from their association with the drugs problem. Instead the company has reported an increase in sales in the last six months and guaranteed to continue full sponsorship of the cycling team.