German media giants ARD and ZDF announced Thursday they will not cover the Tour de France because of the recent spate of positive drug tests.

"The sporting value of the Tour de France has been reduced by the accumulation of failed drugs tests. Therefore, its broadcast value has sunk deeply,” said ARD chairman Fritz Raff after the decision was made following a meeting in Cologne.

ARD, the No. 1 broadcaster in Germany, ceased broadcasting the 2007 Tour in the middle of the race after German rider Patrick Sinkewitz tested positive for testosterone.

The broadcasters had been set to renegotiate their contract with Tour organizers to screen next year's race. ARD’s outlets include television, radio and websites.

In Paris, Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), which organizes the Tour, said it was stunned by ARD's decision to drop the event from its schedules, saying it could "sadly encourage those fighting against doping to ease up in order to guarantee a broadcast.”

"ARD asks that we fight doping but then takes offense when doped riders are found. We must look and find nothing.”

Meanwhile, German national television channel ZDF has followed ARD's example.

"ZDF will also not broadcast the Tour without ARD," said ZDF's chief spokesman Nikolaus Brender.

Both ARD and ZDF will need to negotiate with the European Broadcast Union (EBU) about the consequences of their actions as both are members of the EBU, which had a contract with Tour de France organisers to broadcast the race until 2011. The new contract was agreed in July.

"We always said that we would decide only at the end of the season. Why the EBU acted regardless before that we don't know," said an ARD spokesman.

Thomas Bach, president of the German Olympic Sport Federation (DOSB), was surprised by the broadcasters' decision.

"I consider it premature — the Tour doesn't take place until the summer of 2009," he told German sports agency SID from Cologne.

"They should have waited to see what decisions the International Cycling Union (UCI) take."