Thu, Oct 07 10 01:16 AM
Spanish rider David Garcia Da Pena has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Wednesday.
The substance was detected in a urine sample collected during the Tour of Spain last month.
Xacobeo rider Garcia Da Pena, along with team mate and Vuelta runner-up Ezequiel Mosquera, had already returned a positive test for hydroxyethyl starch, a plasma substitute that can help improve performance.
Garcia Da Pena's suspension would remain in force until a hearing convened by the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) determined whether he had violated anti-doping rules, the UCI said on their website.
The rider has the right to have his B sample tested.
The doping case follows last week's announcement that Tour de France champion Alberto Contador had failed a test conducted during this year's race.
Spaniard Contador denies doping and said a contaminated piece of meat he had eaten was to blame for the tiny quantity of the anabolic agent clenbuterol detected.
UCI president Pat McQuaid has said the Spanish government should recognise it faces a doping problem in cycling and step up efforts to tackle it.
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