Tour suffers first failed dope test

Russian rider Alexandr Kolobnev has failed a doping test during the Tour de France, cycling's world governing body announced.

The UCI said 30-year-old Kolobnev, of the Katusha team, had given a urine sample which contained the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, a 'specified substance' prohibited in professional cycling.
The sample was taken last Wednesday - July 6 - and Kolobnev has the right to request results of his B sample, however his participation in the ongoing Tour appears to be over.
The governing body said in a statement: "The UCI anti-doping rules do not provide for a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a specified substance.
"However the UCI is confident that his team will take the necessary steps to enable the Tour de France to continue in serenity and to ensure that their rider has the opportunity to properly prepare his defence in particular within the legal timeline, which allows four days for him to have his B sample analysed.
"Under the world anti-doping code and the UCI anti-doping rules, the UCI is unable to provide any additional information at this time."
He becomes the first cyclist to fail a doping test during this year's race.
Kolobnev stands 69th in the overall standings after nine stages, with today a rest day, 22 minutes and 15 seconds behind leader Thomas Voeckler.
The Russian has had a largely low-profile career but he won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics in the road-race event, being promoted from fourth place after second-placed finisher Davide Rebellin failed a drugs test.
He has also won two World Championship silver medals in road-racing.
A statement on Katusha's official website later said Kolobnev had withdrawn from the race, in accordance with the UCI request.
If the 'B' sample is also positive, the Russian team will fine Kolobnev five times his salary and cancel his contract.
The statement on www.katushateam.com read: "Team Katusha rider Alexander Kolobnev, after testing positive for a diuretic at a medical examination during the Tour de France's first week, decided to suspend himself according to UCI rules, waiting for the B-sample.
"At the moment, Team management and the rider have no further comment.
"It has to be noticed that internal rules in Team Katusha say that the rider, if the B-sample also tests positive, he will be fired and will have to pay five times his salary as a fine.
"The president of the sport group Andrei Tchmil went voluntarily to the police, together with Kolobnev and his room-mate (Egor) Silin, in order to translate and reinforce the fact that he and the team are not involved to the contested facts."