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Spanish climber Manuel Beltran has been banned from competing in France for two years after testing positive for banned blood-boosting drug EPO during this year's Tour de France.

AFLD - France's anti-doping agency - announced the ban, effective from Tuesday (November 25). Beltran will now not be allowed to take part in the next two editions of the Tour. At 37 years of age, his career must now be over.

The Liquigas rider tested positive for EPO after the first stage of the Tour in July, and was immediately kicked out of the race and suspended by his team. French police searched Liquigas's team hotel but found nothing.

Beltran was part of Lance Armstrong's US Postal and Discovery Channel squads during 2003-05, when the Texan won the Tour. Although Beltran has few wins in his palmares, it was as one of Armstrong's key mountain men that he rose to prominence. He signed for Liquigas in 2007 after the Discovery Channel team disbanded.

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Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour

Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.