Astana withdraws from Tour of Beijing after Maxim Iglinskiy positive

Astana has withdrawn from the 2014 Tour of Beijing after the Kazakh team's Maxim Iglinskiy failed an anti-doping test taken in August for banned blood booster EPO.

Iglinskiy has elected not to request that his B sample be analysed - effectively admitting his guilt - so the team has voluntarily withdrawn itself from the final WorldTour event of the season.

Maxim Iglinskiy's positive for EPO is in addition to a test failure for the same substance by his brother and former Astana team-mate, Valentin.

Valentin admitted using the drug and was sacked from the team.

Under the rules of the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC), of which Astana is a member, a team must withdraw itself from competition for eight days from the start of the next WorldTour race if it has two positive doping cases in a 12-month period.

In a brief statement issued on Monday, the squad said: "Astana Pro Team has moved to act upon the decision by rider Maxim Iglinskiy not to request a counter-analysis of his positive control from 1 August 2014."

"In doing so the team conforms to rules set by the MPCC, which Astana Pro Team joined in 2013, and has therefore decided to withdraw from the final WorldTour event – the Tour of Beijing."

The Tour of Beijing runs from October 10 to 14.

Maxim Iglinskiy provisionally suspended for EPO test failure

Second EPO positive for Astana as Maxim Iglinskiy joins brother Valentin in failing a test for blood booster

Valentin Iglinskiy sacked by Astana after failing EPO test

Kazakh rider Valentin Iglinskiy failed test for EPO at Eneco Tour and admits to using the banned blood booster