REUTERS - International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid on Monday refuted allegations that the organisation's anti-doping testers were "indulgent" towards riders on the Tour de France.

Pierre Bordry, the president of the French Anti-Doping Agency which works hand in hand with the UCI on the Tour, told French paper Le Figaro to be published on Tuesday: "There is a lack of rigour in the work of the UCI testers.

"I have the feeling there is some indulgence towards the riders and that the same rules do not apply to all of them."

He would not elaborate.

"I received a letter from Pierre Bordry and I am going to reply to it," McQuaid told Reuters by telephone.

"I refute allegations that there is any indulgence."