BERLIN (AFP) - Controversial cyclist Erik Zabel looks set to take part in next month's World Road Championships after the German Cycling Federation (BDR) named him in their provisional squad on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old, who won silver at last year's Road World Championships in Salzburg, has been named in a preliminary 21-man squad which will be trimmed down before the championships which are in Stuttgart from September 26-30.

Zabel, who is set to compete in the Tour of Spain which starts on Saturday, was delighted with the news.

"I am very pleased to be allowed to race for Germany in the world championships," he said.

"I will fight hard and try to do as well as I did last year."

Zabel's inclusion is controversial after his May confession to using banned blood-booster EPO (erythropoietin) for a short period during the 1996 Tour de France while racing for Deutsche Telekom.

"We have taken the decision after careful deliberation over the cyclist's form and all the other circumstances," said BDR president Rudolf Scharping.

After his tearful confession, the BDR had said Zabel's selection was in doubt and the team will be trimmed to 14 on September 18.

In the end, the BDR voting was 6-2 in favour of including Zabel with Scharping, a close friend of the cyclist, excluding himself from the vote.

The decision will not go down well with Susanne Eisenmann, the president of the organising committee, who had called for Zabel to be banned from racing after his confession.

Tour of Germany winner Jens Voigt was also included in the provisional squad.