The UCI (cycling's governing body) has toughened anti-doping rules by limiting when riders are allowed to receive injections.

The International Cycling Union says its "No Needle" policy will take effect immediately and that teams and riders will, therefore, also have to abide by the new rule during the 2011 Giro d'Italia starting on Saturday May 7. It prohibits injections of recovery-boosting "vitamins, sugars, enzymes and amino acids."

The UCI says injections must be justified by medical science, and most legitimate uses of needles must be reported within 24 hours.

The new rules allow riders, teams and doctors to be sanctioned.

Riders can be suspended up to six months and fined $116,000 for a first offense. Teams face exclusion from races if an illegal injection is given.