Another damaging blow for Irish cycling was revealed yesterday when the FIC announced a suspension, for use of a banned substance, on Michael Quinn of Corrib Wheelers.

Quinn, who has been racing in France for two seasons, was on international duty with a team representing Ireland in a stage race in Spain in July when a medical test proved positive.

A suspension of three months seems lenient but it is for the first three months of the season next year, from March 1st to June 1st.

Quinn clinched selection on the team for Spain when he came home and finished second to Michael McNena in the new Under-23 championship at Cong and although he said he thought he used only a regular cough mixture in Spain, his future is now in doubt as he will be excluded from all the important early-season races in 1998.