Paris – Spanish rider Iban Mayo tested positive for EPO during the final week of the Tour de France, his team said Monday in a statement.
Doping allegations and suspicions have devastated the 2007 Tour, which ended Sunday. Three riders, including former overall leader Michael Rasmussen, and two teams were expelled during the three-week race.
Mayo’s Saunier Duval team was told of the results of the July 24 test by cycling’s governing body and “immediately suspended” Mayo, according to a statement posted on the team’s website. A second test is needed to confirm the initial positive result for Mayo, who finished 16th in cycling’s biggest event.
Meanwhile, Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov was fired by his team after he tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.
HORSE RACING
Santos retires before entering Hall
Six months after breaking his back in a spill at Aqueduct, jockey Jose Santos, who rode Funny Cide to victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, called it a career.
“I am going to retire because my back is in real bad shape right now,” Santos said. “With time, definitely it’s going to get better. But my doctor advised me it’s not a good idea to come back.”
Santos’ retirement comes a week before the popular 46-year-old rider is inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
“This has been very hard for me, because I really wanted go out on my own terms,” Santos said. “That didn’t happen. I decided that I wanted to make this announcement today because I didn’t want to take anything away from the Hall of Fame ceremonies.”
Belmont Stakes winning filly Rags to Riches was declared fit and ready to resume training, with a start in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 18 still a possibility.
MOTORSPORTS
Earnhardt, Harvick form mergers
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick each strengthened their race teams when the drivers partnered with their respective Nextel Cup team owners.
Car owner Rick Hendrick will merge his existing Busch team into JR Motorsports, the Busch team Earnhardt owns. Harvick, meanwhile, strengthened the existing alliance between Richard Childress and Kevin Harvick Inc., which races in the Busch and Truck Series.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Notre Dame-Michigan series extended
Michigan and Notre Dame agreed to a 20-year contract extension that will have them playing annually through 2031. The series was set to expire after the 2011 season.
The schools are 1-2 in wins and winning percentage in college football. Michigan is 860-282-36 with a .745 winning percentage, while Notre Dame is 821-269-42 with a .744 winning percentage. Michigan leads the series 19-14-1.
NHL
Stars’ Miettinen wins arbitration case
Dallas Stars right winger Antti Miettinen was awarded an $885,000, one-year deal in salary arbitration, while New York Rangers forward Sean Avery had his case heard by an arbitrator.
Miettinen, 27, nearly doubled his salary of $450,000 last season, when he scored 11 goals with 14 assists in 74 games.
A ruling is expected in Avery’s hearing today or Wednesday morning. Avery, 27, had a career-high 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) last season with the Los Angeles Kings and the Rangers.
SOCCER
Ankle injury keeps Beckham sidelined
David Beckham, nursing an injured left ankle, will miss his third consecutive game when the Los Angeles Galaxy plays at FC Dallas tonight in the SuperLiga tournament, raising doubt whether he will make his Major League Soccer debut this weekend at Toronto.
“He’s not out here, so he’s obviously not going to Dallas with us,” Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said during practice.
FOOTNOTES
Triple jumper Bell suspended
Triple-jumper Kenta Bell has accepted a three-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Bell, of Decatur, Ga., tested positive for methylpredisolone June 24 at the U.S. Outdoor Nationals in Indianapolis.
Lindsay Davenport will return to singles tennis after an absence of almost a year when she plays in the Wismilak International on the island of Bali in September.
