Kolobnev's Tour de France positive confirmed

Professional cycling's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), confirmed on Wednesday that a secondary test on

Alexandr Kolobnev's

urine sample taken during the Tour de France has also tested positive for banned substance hydrochlorothiazide.

The Russian Katusha rider initially failed a test for the banned diuretic substance from an in-competition urine sample taken on July 6. Kolobnev protested his innocence and requested that the B sample be tested in accordance with procedure.

The UCI has confirmed that the B sample was also found to contain hydrochlorothiazide.

Kolobnev had, according to his team, 'suspended himself' from the Tour de France when the news broke of the initial positive test. He is the only rider to have tested positive for a banned substance at this year's race.

The UCI will now send a request to the Russian Cycling Federation to take disclipinary action against Kolobnev. This should mean a two-year suspension from competition. It is also likely that he will now be sacked from Katusha and fined according to the team's anti-doping charter signed by its riders.

Related links

Kolobnev tests positive at Tour de France

Tour de France 2011: Related links

Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index