A new doping test to detect the banned hormone erythropoietin (EPO) in urine samples could be introduced in the forthcoming Tour de France. A meeting, requested by the French Sports Ministry, will be held in Geneva tomorrow to decide on four measures to improve doping controls during the Tour starting on July 1st.

The meeting, chaired by International Cycling Union president Hein Verbruggen, will be attended by Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc, ONCE team director Manolo Saiz, French cycling federation president Daniel Baal and Jacques de Ceaurriz, head of the French laboratory which perfected the test. However, the test has not yet been validated by the International Olympic Committee.