Tuesday October 29th, 2002

Formula One's decision to axe the Belgian Grand Prix has been attacked by the European Union's public health chief, who criticised the sport's officials for racing with "tainted money" generated by tobacco advertising.

The International Automobile Federation's (FIA) Formula One Commission announced on Monday it would drop Spa-Francorchamps from its calendar next year because Belgium has banned tobacco advertising including at sporting events.

"What kind of signal is this to racing fans?" said David Byrne, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, on Tuesday, adding his voice to many other critics in Belgium who fear the economic fallout from losing Spa's historic Grand Prix.

"Is the tainted money of big tobacco more important to the Formula One machine than the spirit of the sport and the dedication of its fans to one of the most exciting racetracks, which Spa-Francorchamps undoubtedly is?," he said in a statement.

Five teams have tobacco advertising - Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Jordan and British American racing. Byrne called the decision to drop World Champion Michael Schumacher's favourite race "an unjustified sanction against Belgium".

The Grand Prix generates around 25 million euros ($24.61 million) a year for the local economy, according to recent estimates from an official at the Wallonian Economy Ministry. Byrne appealed for a single approach across the 15-member EU bloc to dealing with cigarette advertising, saying that tobacco had no place at international sporting events.

The European Commission proposed a law in May 2001 which would ban tobacco advertising at international sporting events throughout the EU. Formula One have agreed to phase out all sponsorship by tobacco companies in 2006, in line with a global embargo planned by the World Health Organisation.

Several European countries, including Britain which recently passed legislation on a ban on tobacco advertising, have agreed to give special dispensation to the sport until 2006.

Published at 18:51:22 GMT