Team withdraws from tour following drugs test

Team Astana have withdrawn from the Tour de France after Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.

The 33-year-old Kazakh rider - who won Saturday's 13th stage, a time trial in Albi - reportedly has two different kinds of blood globules which indicates he has taken blood from someone of a compatible group.

Team Astana ride in the colours of the Kazakhstan flag and have been built around leader Vinokourov.

The team's decision also rules Germany's Andreas Klvden and Vinokourov's compatriot Andrey Kashechkin - who were lying fifth and eighth overall - out of the race.

A statement from Astana read: "The anti-doping control on Alexandre Vinokourov, that had been done on July 21 after the time trial in Albi, has been positively controlled.

"According to the ethical code of the Astana Cycling Team, Alexandre Vinokourov has been suspended with immediate effect. The rider asked nevertheless for a B analysis.

"Informed by the Astana management, the organisers of the Tour de France invited the team to withdraw, which was immediately accepted."

Astana's withdrawal comes within hours of Alessandro Petacchi being cleared of doping charges by the Italian Cycling Federation.

Petacchi returned a 'non-negative' test for salbutamol after winning the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia on May 23.

But it was announced in Rome that the Italian, a registered asthmatic, was permitted to use salbutamol for medical reasons.

"It's one of the most beautiful victories of my life," said Petacchi, who was dumped by the Milram team just two days before the start of the Tour de France.

"I always believed I hadn't done anything, and now I'm coming out with my head held high."

However, Vinokourov's failed test and Astana's decision to pull out has put the sport in a bad light once again.

The latest development deepens the state of crisis the sport finds itself in, with Tour leader Michael Rasmussen also embroiled in a fresh doping row.

Rasmussen is accused of failing to inform drug testers of his whereabouts on four separate occasions.

Failure to do so on three occasions constitutes a positive test under International Cycling Union (UCI) rules and should bring about a two-year suspension.

Danish Cycling Union president Jesper Worre said Rasmussen had had four warnings, two from the Danes and two from the UCI.

Rasmussen has also been asked about allegations relating to the acquisition of bovine blood products but has protested his innocence.

The 33-year-old is the current holder of the yellow jersey in the most prestigious cycling race in the world and the latest scandal has further tarnished a sport still reeling from last year's winner Floyd Landis testing positive for excessive levels of testosterone, charges he is currently contesting.

Rasmussen said: "I am sorry for the Tour and the organisers that this event has happened now I have the yellow jersey.

"Since the start I have been tested 14 times including today and I have never been positive.

"I want to concentrate on the race."

Rasmussen rides for the Rabobank team, whose manager Theo de Rooy said: "There is no legal reason to stop him continuing the Tour until it ends on Sunday.

"When I got the warning on June 29 I took it very seriously. I contacted the UCI to announce I would fine Rasmussen.

"I selected him for Le Tour because this information was meant to be confidential.

"The bodies did not respect these rules of confidentiality. But I am sure many other riders in the peloton have received similar warnings.

"We have lots of international controls. We are defending a clean and responsible sport.

"We need a more efficient system of monitoring riders like the CSC team which serves as an example to us."

Rasmussen has a two minute and 23 second advantage over Spaniard Alberto Contador Velasco.

Tomorrow's stage sees the riders make the 218.5 kilometre journey from Orthez to Gourette-Col d'Aubisque.