Saunier Duval have suspended Spanish rider Iban Mayo after a positive test for the banned blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO) during the Tour de France, the Spanish team said.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) told Saunier Duval Mayo failed the test on the 24 July rest day. Mayo finished the race 16th overall.
‘In line with the fight against doping that the team fully support, the rider is immediately suspended until the B sample has been tested,’ Saunier Duval said on their website.
‘If that is confirmed as positive as well, we will proceed to rescind his contract.’
The sports director of the Pro Tour team Josean Fernandez ‘Matxin’ told the Europa Press news agency: ‘It's an unpleasant surprise. He has never been a rider under suspicion, in fact he is completely the opposite.
‘He has always passed the UCI's tests and the internal controls. It's bad news.’
Mayo, 29, who joined Saunier Duval from the Euskaltel Euskadi team last October, has frequently been tipped to shine in the Tour de France but has failed to live up to expectations.
He finished sixth in the Tour de France in 2003 and won Dauphine Libere race in 2004.
