Tennis-French Open doping samples to be tested in Montreal

PARIS, May 16 (Reuters) Doping test samples from this year's French Open will be tested at Montreal's Anti-Doping laboratory following a decision by world governing body the International Tennis Federation.

''For the first time this year, ITF is centralising doping tests from the ATP, the WTA and the Grand Slam tournaments,'' French Open chief officer Christophe Proust told Reuters today.

Proust said the ITF had commissionned the International Doping and Tests Management for the tests.

''The IDTM have negotiated with the Montreal lab because a test in Chatenay-Malabry costs twice as much,'' Proust added.

''Thanks to this cut in the costs, we will be able to make more than 180 tests in Roland Garros.'' Last year some 130 tests were conducted at the French Open.

''There will be no quality difference and no delay following this decision to change laboratory,'' Proust added.

The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, starts on May 27 and ends on June 10.

The Chatenay-Malabry laboratory outside Paris conducted the original tests on American Tour de France winner Floyd Landis's Stage 17 samples that produced positive results for elevated levels of testosterone.

Reuters AKD RS1734