Frank Schleck out of Tour after failing dope test

THE LUXEMBOURG rider Frank Schleck is out of the Tour de France after failing a doping test, taken last Saturday, for the banned diuretic Xipamide.

A spokesman for his RadioShack-Nissan team confirmed the rider would not be continuing in the race.

Xipamide is a sulfonamide used for the treatment of oedema, fluid retention and hypertension.

The UCI informed Schleck of the news yesterday afternoon and requested his removal from the Tour.

Schleck has four days to request the analysis of his B sample.

Schleck, the elder brother of Andy, who was awarded victory in the Tour de France in 2010 when Alberto Contador was disqualified, and was runner-up in 2009 and 2011, was in 12th place in this year’s race after the 15th stage, nine minutes 45 seconds behind the leader, Bradley Wiggins.

Andy Schleck said: “On my life and my family, I am sure he hasn’t taken anything.”

The 32-year-old Frank was third in the Tour last year.

UCI said the diuretic turned up in an anti-doping test on a sample from Schleck taken on July 14th.

The UCI statement said: “Earlier today the UCI advised the Luxembourger rider Frank Schleck of an adverse analytical finding (presence of the diuretic Xipamide) in the urine sample collected from him at an in-competition test at the Tour de France on 14 July 2012.

“The UCI anti-doping rules do not provide for a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a specified substance,” said the statement.

“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.

“Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the UCI is unable to provide any additional information at this time.”

A statement from Schleck’s team said: “On the subject of Xipamide the team can declare the following: it is not a product that is present in any of the medicine that the team uses and the reason for the presence of Xipamide in the urine sample of Mr Schleck is unclear to the team. Therefore, the team is not able to explain the adverse findings at this point.”