Denmark's Bjarne Riis, who has admitted to doping during his 1996 Tour de France victory, has been stripped of the title, race organizers said on Thursday.

Amaury Sport Organization said a blank had been left after the1996 winner in its annual race guide published in the run-up to the race, which this year starts in London on July 7, the AFP reported.

ASO added: "It seems the UCI (cycling's world governing body) have asked him (Riis) to give back his yellow jersey and the rider himself does not consider himself worthy of it."

Riis is the first ever winner of the Tour to have admitted doping.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2007)