Tour de France - Beltran fails dope test

Liquigas have withdrawn team rider Manuel Beltran after a 'positive' dope test following stage one of the Tour de France.

French police are interviewing the rider, about the banned blood doping drug Erythropoietin (EPO).

"The police have taken Manuel away for questioning."He was not sharing a room with any other team-mates. It was only his room that was searched." Said team manager Roberto Amadio

The next step is to await the second test and the teams continued participation in the race hangs in the air.

His team have issued the following statement -

After the announcement that Manuel Beltràn resulted ‘positive’ after a dope-test carried out at the end of the first stage of the Tour de France, Liquigas Sport S.p.A. will withdraw the athlete from the race and announce his suspension – as agreed with organisers. If the counter-dope test confirms Beltràn positive result, the Team will dismiss and could sue the rider for damages.

Amadio says that he is "shocked about the news. We wait for the result of further provided checks and at the same time, even though with regret, we prepare ourselves to take on strict disciplinary measures, according to the values that our team has always respected,".