Katusha’s Gent-Wevelgem winner Luca Paolini has been provisionally suspended by the UCI after testing positive for cocaine during the Tour de France.

The Italian team-mate of Alexander Kristoff and Joaquim Rodriguez gave the sample on Tuesday (July 7), on the day of the cobbled stage four, and the UCI today informed the Italian of the adverse analytical finding.

Paolini, 38, has the right to attend the testing of his B sample, and the short UCI statement added: “In accordance with UCI Anti-doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair.

“At this stage of the procedure, the UCI will not comment any further.”