Astarloza could be banned for up to two years

Tour de France stage 16 winner Mikel Astarloza has been suspended by the International Cycling Union after a positive test for blood-booster EPO.

The Spaniard's urine sample from a test eight days before the start of the Tour came back with an "adverse analytical finding".

Astarloza has been provisionally banned from racing until a Spanish cycling federation disciplinary hearing.

If a B sample is positive, Astarloza, 29, will face a two-year suspension.

A statement from the UCI said: "On Friday, the UCI advised Spanish rider Mikel Astarloza that he has been provisionally suspended.

"The decision to provisionally suspend Mr Astarloza was made in response to a report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Madrid indicating an adverse analytical finding of recombinant EPO in a urine sample collected from him at an out-of-competition test on 26 June 2009.

606: DEBATE I've always been impressed with Wiggins' very public stance on how much he hates the dopers - this is just like him pigeons in the park

"The provisional suspension remains in force until a hearing panel convened by the Spanish Cycling Federation determines whether Mr Astarloza has committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules.

"The hearing panel will make a decision on an applicable sanction for Mr Astarloza including his disqualification from any events in which he competed following the collection of the sample on 26 June."

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins has released his blood tests from the Tour de France to erase any doubts over his fourth place.

The triple Olympic gold-medallist exceeded expectations and his team Garmin-Slipstream have released his blood profile from the whole of 2009, including the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, plus the first half of 2008.

"I don't want there to be any suspicion or doubt that what I did was natural. I have nothing to hide and I want this transparency," said Wiggins.

"If more people did that, fans would have a lot more respect for our achievements.

"British Cycling have all my blood tests results from the age of 19 and I might even release everything from the last 10 years."

A statement from Garmin-Slipstream concluded that analysis of the three graphs posted on the team's website "indicate no evidence of blood manipulation".

Jonathan Vaughters, chief executive of Slipstream Sports, said: "Brad is an exceptionally talented athlete and it was great to see him do so well in the Tour de France.

"He's always been an outspoken advocate of clean cycling. He requested that we release his results after the Tour and his decision makes me and the entire team proud."

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