Giro leader fails dope test

Giro d'Italia leader Stefano Garzelli has failed a dope test.

Team officials told a news conference the Italian rider, who won the Giro in 2000, had tested positive for probenecid, a diuretic and masking agent.

The Mapei team said they were surprised by the results of the test on Garzelli, which was carried out after Monday's stage to Liege, in Belgium.

Garzelli was clearly distraught at the news conference: "My conscience is clear," he said.

"I have been preparing for the Giro since last year. I would be an idiot to ruin the race, my career and my life for something like this."