Team Katusha rider Aleksandr Kolobnev has been removed from the 2011 Tour de France after testing positive for the banned substance Hydrochlorothiazide.
A statement from world cycling's governing body UCI confirmed that an 'A' sample from the 30-year-old Russian was found to contain the drug, a banned diuretic listed as a 'specified substance'.
"The UCI's anti-doping rules do not foresee a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a 'specified substance'," a statement from the body revealed.
"However the UCI is confident that [Kolobnev's] team will take the necessary measures to ensure the serenity of the Tour de France and at the same time give the rider a chance to prepare his defence, notably with respect to the reglementary four day period in which he is obliged to proceed with the analysis of a B sample."
Kolobnev, a bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympics and Russia's reigning national road cycling champion, was in 69th place on this year's Tour, some 22 minutes behind current yellow jersey wearer Thomas Voeckler.
But the Russian's future now looks uncertain. After confirming that he had been removed from the Tour de France's classification, Katusha's press-attache Sergey Ushakov told Reuters that Kolobnev was to be thrown off the team.
"He has been discharged from the team and, in accordance with our rules, after the conclusion of a trial he will pay a fine for damaging the image of Katusha," Ushakov said.
A later official statement clarified Katusha's position, insisting that though Kolobnev remained on the team for now, a positive test result from his 'B' sample would result in his expulsion.
"According to the terms of his contract, if the B sample gives a positive result, Kolobnev will be threatened with a fine five times his salary and explusion," the statement read.
For his part, the Russian rider has denied any wrongdoing, insisting: "I do not know where it [the substance] comes from."
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