LANNEMEZAN, France (Reuters) - A claim by International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid that Spain is "slow to get the message" in the fight against doping, drew a sharp response from the country's sports minister on Wednesday.
McQuaid's comments came after a second Spanish rider failed a drugs test at the Tour de France on Wednesday.
Barloworld's Moises Duenas Nevado had tested positive for the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO), it was announced, five days after Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team was arrested after returning a positive result.
Jaime Lissavetzky told Spanish state radio: "I respect everyone's opinion but McQuaid seems to be picking fights with everyone these days. He knows very well we are making great efforts on this theme and what he has said is very unfortunate.
"We have introduced a law against doping and it is being applied and is having positive results. There are less positives than there were in the past.
"The latest news is bad for Spanish cycling, I cannot deny it. We have to continue the fight in the most practical way we can and that is what we are doing, to try and eradicate doping."
Earlier, McQuaid had spoken to Reuters about Duenas Nevado's positive.
"My first reaction is a reaction of great anger. He is an idiot," the Irishman said of Duenas Nevado, who was 19th in the overall standings when he was taken by police for questioning before the 11th stage of the Tour on Wednesday.
The French anti-doping agency said Duenas Nevado had failed the test after the fourth stage of the Tour, a time trial in Cholet.
"It is interesting to see that it is the second Spanish rider (to fail a dope test on the Tour)," McQuaid added.
"Spain (is) slower to get the message."
The UCI barred Spain's Alejandro Valverde from entering the world championships in Stuttgart last year because of his possible implication in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal that erupted in Spain in 2006.
The Spanish federation appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who ruled against the UCI, allowing Caisse d'Epargne rider Valverde to participate in the race.
Spanish authorities also denied the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the UCI access to blood bags that were seized during Operation Puerto.
Earlier this month, CAS said they would consider WADA and UCI's appeal of this decision.
