T-MOBILE RELEASE HONCHAR AFTER DOPING TESTS

The T-Mobile team have announced the immediate release of Serhiy Honchar from their line-up after carrying out a detailed investigation and the studying the results of follow-up blood tests.

Honchar was suspended by T-Mobile in early May after tests spotted suspicious blood values and he was dropped from the role of team leader for the Giro d?Italia.

After further tests carried out by an independent laboratory and other information gathered in June, Honchar has been released for violation of the T-Mobile team?s strict code of conduct. He is now free to join another team.

T-Mobile announced their decision on their website on Tuesday morning but general manager Bob Stapleton initially refused to give further details.

"We respect the rights to privacy of all parties involved and cannot release any further information at this time," he said.

36 year-old Honchar has been a professional since 1996 and was world time trial champion in 2000. During his career he rode for Vini Caldirola, Liquigas, Fassa Bortolo, De Nardi and Domina Vacanze. He joined T-Mobile in 2006 and won both individual time trials in the Tour de France and wore the yellow jersey for three days.

When T-Mobile had their clean-out at the end of 2006 many were surprised that Honchar was kept on. Bob Stapleton told Cycling Weekly that he had trusted Honchar and was confident of the internal anti-doping testing procedures and the strict code of conduct created in the team.