UCI president Pat McQuaid has condemned the decision to bar Alberto Contador's Astana team from the Tour de France saying that he will do everything within his power to ensure the Spaniard can defend his crown.

"It would be a tragedy if Contador is not allowed to defend his title," the head of world cycling's governing body told Spanish daily El Pais. "It is a complete disgrace.

"We will do all we can to ensure Contador rides in the Tour," he added.

Tour de France organisers announced last week that Astana would be barred from the 2008 edition of the race, arguing the team could not be trusted following the doping scandals that have affected the outfit in recent seasons.

Astana, who were forced to pull out of last year's Tour when Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping, have since overhauled their structure with former

Discovery Channel team director Johan Bruyneel now at the helm.

McQuaid said Astana were being used by Tour organisers as a weapon in their power struggle with the UCI.

"They say that Astana damaged the Tour last year but so did other teams. So why have they only selected Astana? It is unfair and unjustifiable. It is a decision taken by people who know nothing about this sport.

"In my opinion they have chosen Astana because of the relations between (Tour organisers) ASO and the UCI and because they don't want to respect our rules. It is a decision that has nothing to do with the sport and everything to do with economics and power."

The UCI wants the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour of Spain to be part of their ProTour series of races which would mean guaranteed places for elite cycling teams.

But the organisers of the big three multi-stage events are adamant they must retain control over who can participate in their races.

"The UCI has participation rules that have been accepted for years," said McQuaid. "In the last two years the big tours have rejected the rules and this is what happens."

Reuters