Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team has tested positive Sanchez seals Tour stage victory ... for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) at the 2008 Tour de France.
After an anomaly in Beltran's pre-Tour blood test, the Spaniard was targeted by France's Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).
And the 37-year-old was found to have EPO in his urine 'A' sample taken after the first stage from Brest to Plumelec on Saturday 5 July.
"There are not just traces of EPO, there is EPO," said the head of AFLD.
"The rider concerned has been informed of the results of the analysis of the tests we took and has been informed of his rights," said Pierre Bordry, head of the AFLD.
Beltran has the right to ask for a second urine sample to be tested, but has been withdrawn from the race by his team manager Roberto Amadio.
Last year the entire Cofidis team were expelled when Cristian Moreni tested positive for testosterone.
And the Astana team was also ejected from last year's race when Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping.
French police, meanwhile, have raided the Liquigas team in their accommodation at the Hotel des Voyageurs in Le Rouget.
A professional since 1995, Beltran began his career with the Mapei team, and also rode for Banesto and Team Coast, before becoming a key member of Lance Armstrong's US Postal and Discovery teams.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 'Festina Affair', when organised doping was uncovered in the then France-based team, leading to many of the current anti-doping systems.
(BBC)
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