Schleck withdrawn from Tour

RadioShack-Nissan cyclist Frank Schleck has tested positive to a banned diuretic and has been withdrawn from the Tour de France.

The Luxembourgian - who was 12th in the general classification - was revealed to allegedly have the diuretic Xipamide in his system, from a test undertaken on Saturday.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced the test results on Tuesday, allowing Schleck to ask for a 'B' sample to be taken within four days.

In a statement, cycling's governing body has urged Schleck's team to withdraw him ahead of the supplementary tests, even if the 32-year-old is entitled to stay in the race until the 'B' sample is tested.

"The UCI Anti-Doping Rules do not provide for a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a specified substance," a UCI statement read.

"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."

The UCI's confidence was well placed as Radioshack-Nissan soon announced through their website that Schleck had been withdrawn from the race by the team.

"Even though an abnormal A sample does not require these measures, Mr. Schleck and the team believe this is the right thing to do, to ensure the Tour de France can go on in calm and that Fränk Schleck can prepare his defense (sic) in accordance with the legal timing to do so," the team said in a statement.

"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.

"However, the team is fully determined to collaborate with the anti-doping agencies in order to resolve the matter."