Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping following his victory in last Saturday's time-trial stage in the Tour de France informed sources revealed on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old had lost all chance of winning the Tour with a dismal performance in Sunday's 14th stage but bounced back to take Monday's 15th stage in the Pyrenees where he was once again tested.
Vinokourov, whose performance in Monday's stage was feted in the French press with headlines such as the 'Courage of 'Vino', had been criticised before the Tour by Pat McQuaid - chief of the International Cycling Union (UCI) - for his association with Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari. Vinokourov is not the first rider to be found to have been blood doping - American Tyler Hamilton and Spaniard Santi Perez being also found to have done so.