Professional cycling's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), confirmed on Wednesday that a secondary test on
Alexandr Kolobnev's
urine sample taken during the Tour de France has also tested positive for banned substance hydrochlorothiazide.
The Russian Katusha rider initially failed a test for the banned diuretic substance from an in-competition urine sample taken on July 6. Kolobnev protested his innocence and requested that the B sample be tested in accordance with procedure.
The UCI has confirmed that the B sample was also found to contain hydrochlorothiazide.
Kolobnev had, according to his team, 'suspended himself' from the Tour de France when the news broke of the initial positive test. He is the only rider to have tested positive for a banned substance at this year's race.
The UCI will now send a request to the Russian Cycling Federation to take disclipinary action against Kolobnev. This should mean a two-year suspension from competition. It is also likely that he will now be sacked from Katusha and fined according to the team's anti-doping charter signed by its riders.
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Kolobnev tests positive at Tour de France
Tour de France 2011: Related links
Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
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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.
