Spaniard Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team has tested positive for blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) on the Tour de France.
'Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) has contacted Liquigas to inform them that their rider Manuel Beltran has tested positive,' an ASO executive said.
Liquigas team manager Roberto Amadio told ASO that Beltran, 37, would be withdrawn from the race after he tested positive following the first stage from Brest to Plumelec last Saturday.
The Spaniard has three Tour stage wins to his name, all of them team time trials with Lance Armstrong's US Postal and Discovery Channel teams in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He also won the Tour of Catalunya in 1999.
Beltran was 26th in the overall standings after Friday's seventh stage from Brioude to Aurillac.
French police have raided the Liquigas team hotel after Beltran tested positive.
