Germany's Stefan Schumacher, who won both time trial stages and wore the yellow jersey at this summer's Tour de France, has reportedly tested positive, according to French newspaper L'Equipe
The newspaper is reporting that, like Saunier Duval riders Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, Schumacher has tested positive for CERA.
Holczer had failed to find a new sponsor, so Schumacher signed for Quick Step. The team's boss Patrick Lefevere said he preferred to hire Schumacher than tempt double world champion Paolo Bettini to postpone his retirement.
Schumacher won the first time trial of the Tour de France ? stage four at Cholet ? by 18 seconds, ahead of Kim Kirchen of Team Columbia and David Millar of Garmin-Chipotle.
That was when the hot favourite, Fabian Cancellara, had an off-day and finished only fifth. However, Schumacher's win was not only a minor surprise but also something of a controversy.
Reporters raised questions about his positive test for amphetamines in 2004. He was later cleared by the German Cycling Federation. His mother, a doctor, had prescribed him a drug to treat allergies and related breathing difficulties and had checked the UCI's list of banned substances and not found the drug, cathine.
The World Anti-Doping Agency's rules were changed in 2004 and amphetamines, like cocaine, are not banned if detected out of competition. As it was not a sporting anti-doping control, Schumacher was not subject to any sanction.
It means that of the Tour's 21 stages, five were won by riders who have subsequently tested positive. They were stages four and 20 (Schumacher at Cholet and Saint-Armand), stages six and nine (Ricco at Super-Besse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre) and stage 10 (Piepoli at Hautacam).
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