Update: Beltran was arrested today. Quote from the AP: "When are these idiots going to learn that it's over?" Pat McQuaid, chief of the International Cycling Union, told The Associated Press by telephone. "They continue to think that they can beat the system. They're wrong. The system is catching up all the time.
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The BBC reports that Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team tested positive on an A Sample for EPO. The B sample test will be determined later.
Manuel Beltran of the Liquigas team has tested positive for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) at the 2008 Tour de France.
After an anomaly in Beltran's pre-Tour blood test, the Spaniard was targeted by France's Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).
And the 37-year-old was found to have EPO in his urine 'A' sample taken after the first stage from Brest to Plumelec on Saturday 5 July.
"There are not just traces of EPO, there is EPO," said the head of AFLD.
"The rider concerned has been informed of the results of the analysis of the tests we took and has been informed of his rights," said Pierre Bordry, head of the AFLD.
Beltran has the right to ask for a second urine sample to be tested, but has been withdrawn from the race by his team manager Roberto Amadio.
Liquigas is the Cannondale Cycling team...Embarrassing. Looks like the Liquigas team might be in for a bit of trouble too. French police raided their hotel:
French police, meanwhile, have raided the Liquigas team in their accommodation at the Hotel des Voyageurs in Le Rouget
Oh yes, a couple other factoids here: one is that Beltran was a teammate of Lance Armstrong:
A professional since 1995, Beltran began his career with the Mapei team, and also rode for Banesto and Team Coast, before becoming a key member of Lance Armstrong's US Postal and Discovery teams.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 'Festina Affair', when organised doping was uncovered in the then France-based team, leading to many of the current anti-doping systems.
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