Defending world champion Paolo Bettini said Saturday that he intends to sue German television station ZDF for accusing him of providing former teammate Patrik Sinkewitz with doping products.

ZDF reported that it based its report on statements from Sinkewitz, but the German cyclist later denied mentioning the name of Bettini.

Bettini was given the all clear to defend his crown in Sunday's elite men's title at the cycling world championships, despite a bid by organisers to bar him from the competition.

Bettini had slammed what he termed "a campaign of denigration of which the town of Stuttgart, the organising committee and channel ZDF are responsible."

"We've decided to take legal action regarding this campaign of denigration," the cyclist's lawyer Guido Marangoni said. "We're not yet in a position to evaluate the totality of the damage cause to Paolo Bettini."

On Thursday the organizing committee filed a provisional order at Stuttgart's regional court to prevent Bettini from starting, but the court on Friday rejected their demand.

Organisers had insisted Bettini sign the full UCI anti-doping agreement which makes it compulsory for every rider to provide a blood sample before Sunday's race. But Bettini had refused saying that demanding a sample was a breach of his human rights and because of a clause which demands the repayment of a year's salary after a positive drugs test.