Alex Zulle, Laurent Dufaux and Armin Meier, the three Swiss cyclists from the Festina team who were banned for eight months after admitting use of the banned red blood cell booster erythropoietin (EPO), have had their bans reduced by a month. "The management committee appreciated the attitude of the riders who accepted responsibility for what they had done," said a spokesman for the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale. "They can begin racing again on May 1st, 1999, without compromising the second half of their seasons."

Meanwhile, a Berlin court trying former East German coach Dieter Krause on doping charges decided yesterday to drop the case against him in return for payment of a fine. The court said Krause, one of six East German sports officials who went on trial in March accused of causing bodily harm to young female swimmers, will have to pay $1,800.