substantial amount of steroids and artificial hormones were found by customs officers in a car belonging to the trainer of Festina.

The discovery was also significant in that it was the first time the artificial hormone stimulant Erythropoiethin, known as EPO, had been linked to a major cycling event. EPO stimulates production of red blood cells, increasing the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. Such an advantage in a sport in which endurance is critical is like carrying around a fresh blood supply.

Former pros say the use of EPO is widespread.

Moreover, EPO is "completely undetectable'' unless tests are carried out the same day that the rider has taken the drug. Even then, it is undetectable when taken with a growth hormone.

EPO can pose considerable danger. If too much is administered into the bloodstream, it can make the blood too thick and set off heart attacks.

With almost daily revelations and accusations about the use of illegal drugs in the sport's marquee event, cycling is reeling.

Now, questions are being raised about whether cycling's image problem will have an impact on its ability to attract the corporate sponsors that bankroll the sport.

Even in Bermuda, where the level of competition pales in comparison to that of the Tour de France, there are concerns about the fall-out from the expulsion of the world's top team and questions two others.

"It doesn't help obviously,'' said Greg Hopkins, president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association.

But Hopkins stressed that the stain on the Tour de France cannot be applied to the sport on the Island. "It doesn't have any relation to what goes on here ... It's really restricted to that level,'' he said.

But do the public -- and the sponsors -- know that? "There could be that perception (that all competitive cyclists use performance-enhancing drugs),'' Hopkins acknowledged. "Many of us at some point have been asked by someone `Are you doing the Tour de France this year?' You try not to laugh. If you look at it realistically, there's nothing locally going on.'' Around the world, however, there are fears the steroid scandal may kill the golden goose.

"Behind closed doors, sponsors will be asking themselves, `Is this the sort of sport we want to be involved in?''' said Matthew Patten, chief executive of M&C Saatchi, a London-based company that advises corporations on sports sponsorship.

The scandals that have rocked cycling's premier event began when customs officials found a stash of the illegal drug EPO in the car of the Festina team's physiotherapist days before the start of the Tour on July 11. The Festina team were thrown out of the race and last week the Dutch TVM team were called in for questioning.

For the privilege of festooning their logos on cyclists during the three-week spectacle, sponsors cough up about $5 million each.

"There is no question that this is effecting the credibility of the sport and the people involved,'' Patten said. "Over the next 12 months Tour organisers are going to have very serious problems convincing organisations that the race presents the right image for sponsors.'' In contrast, the principal sponsors of cycling in Bermuda -- Conyers, Dill and Pearman and International Bonded Courier -- contribute a total of about $25,000 annually.

Given this limited support -- and without television packages -- the pressure to perform is not nearly as high as in cycling-mad Europe, making the use of performance-enhancing drugs unnecessary, said Hopkins.

Even so, the BBA is a prominent backer of the Island's new drug free sports policy. Unlike most sports, which test athletes solely for illicit drugs, cyclists' samples are sent to an accredited IOC laboratory in Montreal for screening for performance-enhancing drugs, Hopkins said.

All national team competitors are subject to year-round tests, as are the organisation's executive, coaches and managers.

"We want to show our commitment,'' said Hopkins. "As far as I'm concerned it's worth it. It's important to be seen to be doing something.'' Bermuda's lone professional cyclist, Elliot Hubbard, has previously hinted at the prevalent use of steroids on the tour in Italy, where he rode last year before a sponsorship crisis forced him to move to the US.

Taking part in a race this past weekend in New Jersey and preparing for the five-day Tour de 'Toona in Pennsylvania starting today, Hubbard was not available for comment.

The manager of his Navigators team, Ray Cipollini, called the scandal "unfortunate'' for the sport. But he blamed "a few bad apples'' for the current crisis and maintained the use of steroids was not as prevalent as has been rumoured.

In addition, Cipollini noted drug tests are routinely -- and randomly -- carried out by the International Cycling Union as well as by the US Olympic Committee. And not only do Navigators have an agreement pertaining to drug use with sponsors, "our riders know that it if they test positive, they're gone, outta here.'' he said.

"We're not going to endanger the safety of our riders or the name of our sponsors for the sake of winning a couple of races.'' Cipollini said he had heard rumours of drug use for 23 years and Hopkins added "I'm not surprised at all,'' by the current revelations.

"I think all local cyclists are happy (organisers) had the courage to throw the whole (Festina) team out,'' Hopkins said. "It they hadn't, then that would have been really bad for the credibility of the sport.''