MILAN, Italy _ Italian Premier Romano Prodi says tough new European legislation and a change in cycling's culture is needed to rid the sport of doping.

"Sport means starting from a level playing field, in health, respecting the rules and control of the rules," Prodi said in an interview Tuesday in La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Prodi, a lifelong cycling enthusiast who is often photographed riding a bike, said any new European legislation should be backed by the United States and strict penalties.

"There are two roads," he said. "The first is legislative" and the second is a change in "the sport's culture, in terms of practice and values."

Prodi said he didn't watch this year's Tour de France after Italian rider Ivan Basso _ the Giro d'Italia winner and a pre-race favorite _ was sent home after being implicated in a Spanish doping probe.

"I didn't manage it," Prodi said. "Basso had convinced me: he had the legs and the head to be able to win even the Tour. The doping incident ... disappointed me profoundly. Basso was the image of the clean athlete. Italian cycling was being built around him."

Basso was one of nine riders _ including German veteran Jan Ullrich _ banned from this year's Tour. Eventual Tour winner Floyd Landis tested positive for testosterone and faces being stripped of the title.

Basso is under investigation by Italian anti-doping authorities. Findings of the investigation are expected later this month.

"However he comes out of it ... a ring of suspicion will remain," Prodi said.