After the announcement that Manuel Beltrān tested ‘positive’ for epo in a doping test carried out at the end
of the first stage of the Tour de France, Liquigas took Beltran out of the race and suspended the Spanish veteran as
the teams had agreed upon with race organiser ASO before the start of 'La Grand Boucle'.
Beltran asked for a B sample and was interrogated by French police yesterday. His hotel room was searched as well but French
police confirmed that they didn't found any performance enhancing drugs in Beltran's hotel room. Beltran was released and
took a flight to his home country, Spain, earlier today.
Team manager Roberto Amadio says that he was "shocked when he heard the news." Amadio told Cyclingheroes that Beltran's
positive test is an "isolated case" and has nothing to do with the team. Amadio said the team had to act and will "wait for
the result of the b sample" but would immediately sack Betran in case of a positive B sample.
