The Tour's finale on the Champs-Elysées was spoiled a bit by news that a fourth rider tested positive for a banned substance during the race. Kazakh rider Dmitriy Fofonov of Crédit Agricole tested positive for the stimulant heptaminol after the stage 18. Fovonov finished the tour 19th overall behind Spaniard Carlos Sastre.
"Fofonov tested positive for a banned stimulant, we have notified him with the news today," Pierre Bordry, the president of the French Anti-doping Agency (AFLD) told Reuters. "The substance is heptaminol." Heptaminol is a stimulant which is sometimes used to relieve bronchial spasms and to treat low blood pressure.
Fovonov was one of four riders to receive such news during this year's Tour. Spaniards Manuel Beltran and Moises Dueñas and Italian Riccardo Riccó all tested positive for EPO during the first week.
The 31-year-old Kazakh has been a professional since 1999. He began his career with the Collstrop team before moving onto the Cofidis squad for five seasons in 2001. He took his first win in six years on the final stage of the Dauphiné Libéré.
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