Dutch company TVM yesterday extended by a year its sponsorship of a cycling team involved in the Tour de France drugs scandal, saying it was "optimistic on the outcome of enquiries".

French police detained four TVM team officials in late July for questioning in Reims over the seizure of illegal performance-enhancing drugs from a team car in March.

Among those held were team director Cees Priem, his assistant Hendrik Redant, the team doctor and a mechanic.

Meanwhile, top Italian rider Francesco Casagrande, who recently failed two doping tests, yesterday maintained his innocence despite being grilled by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) in Rome.

Casagrande, winner of the San Sebastian Classic earlier this month and ranked number five in the world, says he plans to quit French team Cofidis after they asked him not to compete until his case is settled next month.

"I have not been suspended and until a judgement is made on my case I am perfectly free to compete in any race," he explained.