Pau: Tour de France rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion after winning last weekend’s time trial, prompting his Astana team to pull out of the race, a team spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The positive test of the Kazakh rider, a one-time favourite to win cycling’s premier event, dealt a heavy blow to a sport already reeling from a spate of doping scandals. “Vino has tested positive… and the team is leaving the Tour,” team spokeswoman Corinne Druey said, using the rider’s nickname.

The positive test took place after the Kazakh rider’s victory in the 13th stage time trial on Saturday, a French sports newspaper reported on its website.

Alessandro Petacchi, meanwhile, was cleared of doping charges on Tuesday by the Italian cycling federation. Petacchi had registered a “non-negative” test for the asthma drug salbutamol after winning the 11th stage of the Giro d’Italia on May 23, although he had a certificate from the international cycling union that permits him to use the medication. (AP)