As it stands now - disgraced and ravaged by drug allegations - the Tour de France is officially unwelcome back in Ireland. The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid, yesterday stated that he would have "grave reservations" about the Tour ever coming to the country again after the scandals that marred the event after it left Ireland.

Speaking in Dublin yesterday, Dr McDaid said that from the point of view of tourism the event was a success, but because of the drug scandals the sport of cycling would now have to prove that it was clean. "I was happy that the events that occurred on the Tour occurred after the race left this country," he said. "I wouldn't be in any way dismayed about putting on an event like this in the future, but certainly with regards to the Tour itself, one would have to have reservations in view of the events that have happened.

"I don't think we should be making an application for it again until the sport has cleaned itself up. We've had a problem with swimming and I certainly would have reservations about bringing the Tour here. From a drugs point of view, I would have to have very serious thoughts about inviting an event like that to Ireland until we are confident that it has cleaned up its act."

Dr McDaid also included in his address an attack on the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, who last week inferred in an interview that some drug-taking could be made legitimate.

"The recent remarks made by the president of the IOC concerning the possible legitimising of the use of some performance-enhancing drugs do not represent a view to which I could subscribe," said Dr McDaid.

"Drug taking to enhance sporting performance is contrary to the values of sport and the principles for which sport should stand. Doping also endangers the health of athletes and is totally contrary to sport as a life-enhancing, healthy activity. Achievement through other means is hollow and meaningless. The race should be won by the best runner, not by the best laboratory."

The minister, who was speaking at the launch of the new carding system which categorises elite athletes according to performance and potential and funds them accordingly, also stated that any Irish athlete who was found to be using banned substances would automatically forfeit their grant.

"The new carding system means that if they (the athletes) are to be card holders, they must also be available to do any testing that is available on the international scene. If blood testing ever becomes available, they are automatically signed up to it. The athletes' funding is conditional on them being clean," he said.

A National Sport Anti-Doping Programme for Ireland will be finalised over the coming months and will become operational in 1999 when the Irish Sports Council is also expected to become established on a statutory basis.