Astana Wash Their Hands of Vino

Alexandr Vinokourov has been sacked by Astana following his positive test for blood doping during the Tour de France. Astana's decision was announced following confirmation that the second test on Vinokourov's blood sample, taken after his victory in the Albi time-trial on July 21, was positive.

"Astana cycling team received confirmation that Alexander Vinokourov's B sample was 'non negative'," read a team statement. "Consequently, the Kazakh rider has been sacked by Astana cycling team with immediate effect."

However, Vinokourov refuses to accept the result and is maintaining his innocence. "I have always raced within the rules," he said at the weekend. "I have been tested at least 100 times during my career. These [test] results have no sense. With all the attention now paid to doping, you would have to be crazy to do what I am accused of having done, and I am not crazy."

Meanwhile, Rabobank has confirmed that it will launch an independent review of the events leading to its decision to expel Michael Rasmussen from its team. Rasmussen was expelled from the tour for lying about his whereabouts after missing two random drugs tests. "We will start an investigation into the complete affair," said the Rabobank spokesman Rene Loman. "We want to be sure exactly what happened."

Rabobank said its 12-year sponsorship of cycling would continue despite the scandals that rocked its own team and the broader problems with the Tour. "We will stay in cycling, but we just want to know about this Tour, to check all the facts," said Loman.