Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek) has “categorically denied” doping after failing a drugs test at the end of stage 13 of the 2012 Tour de France.
The 32-year-old Luxembourger, who finished third in last year’s Tour, and led the team at the Giro d’Italia in May, tested positive for the banned diuretic, Xipamide, at the end of stage 13 from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Le Cap d’Agde.
The UCI confirmed the sample had been given on Saturday July 14, during an in competition test, and returned an “Adverse Analytical Finding”.
Reuters reported a statement sent by Frank Schleck to Luxembourg’s RTL broadcast network.
“I categorically deny taking any banned substance. I have no explanation for the test result and therefore insist that the B sample be tested which is my right,” said Frank Schleck.
The B sample test must occur within the next four days.
Frank Schleck continued: “If this analysis confirms the initial result, I will argue that I have been the victim of poisoning.”
A statement on the RadioShack-Nissan-Trek website confirmed that Schleck had left the Tour de France, despite not being required to do so by the UCI.
It pledged the team’s full cooperation with any subsequent investigation.
“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 [Frank] Schleck is unclear to the team. Therefore, the team is not able to explain the adverse findings at this point,” the statement said.
