a rider is done for drugs.
last week it was French rider Remy di Gregorio of Cofidis this week it seems just that little bit bigger with one of the riders that occupied one of the top three places on last years final podium. Franck Schleck.
Lying 12th, 9 minutes 45 seconds behind race leader Bradley Wiggins, without his brother Andy to accompany him, Schleck’s A test from Saturday, 14th, tested positive for Xipamide a diuretic, which is a “specified substance” and nothing is absolutely positive until the B sample is tested so he wasn’t suspended but his team RadioShack-Nissan removed him from the race…
Our team attaches great value to transparency. After being informed by the UCI (International Cycling Union) about the presence of Xipamide in the urine sample of Frank Schleck on 14 July, the team has decided to immediately withdraw Frank Schleck from the Tour de France.
Even though an abnormal ‘A’ sample does not require these measures, Mr Schleck and the team believe this is the right thing to do, to ensure the Tour de France can go on in calm and that Frank Schleck can prepare his defence in accordance with the legal timing to do so.
On the subject of Xipamide the team can declare the following: it is not a product that is present in any of the medicine that the team uses and the reason for the presence of Xipamide in the urine sample of Mr Schleck is unclear to the team.
Therefore, the team is not able to explain the adverse findings at this point. However, the team is fully determined to collaborate with the anti-doping agencies in order to resolve the matter. RadioShack-Nissan
And the usual denials were forthcoming from the rider…
I categorically deny taking any banned substance. I have no explanation for the test result and therefore insist that the B sample be tested which is my right.
If this analysis confirms the initial result, I will argue that I have been the victim of poisoning. Frank Schleck
On yesterday’s rest day highlights programme on ITV4, Schelck’s RadioShack team mate Jens Voigt talked about it being a clean race, as did David Millar, an ex-doper, after his stage win the day before Schleck gave the sample that tested positive.
The original Team RadioShack was of course the team set up and originally owned by Lance Armstrong.