Tour de France: Police questions Schleck as he fails dope test

Pau (France): Luxembourg cyclist Frank Schleck pulled out of the Tour de France after failing a doping test.

He voluntarily went to a police station after testing positive to a banned substance here. Cycling’s governing body said Schleck had tested positive for a banned diuretic, another reminder of the doping cloud that has damaged the image of cycling — and its biggest event. RadioShack spokesman Philippe Maertens said the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced Schleck’s positive test for the banned diuretic Xipamide earlier. The RadioShack team said it had decided to withdraw the Luxembourg rider from the race, and said that the diuretic is not present in any medicine used by the team. RadioShack said in a statement: “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.” Governing body UCI said Xipamide turned up in the test conducted by the French anti-doping lab in Chatenay-Malabry, south of Paris, on a sample from Schleck taken on July 14. RadioShack will continue to compete in the race. ANI