Vinokourov Banned Until July for Blood Transfusion

The Kazakhstan cyclist Alexandr Vinokourov has been banned from the sport for eight months by his country's cycling federation after testing positive for a banned blood tranfusion during this year's Tour de France.

Vinokourov and his Astana team-mates were forced out of the race after he won the 13th stage. Astana subsequently fired the cyclist after his B sample confirmed the positive result. His ban will run through until July 2008.

The president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Pat McQuaid, said he was surprised by the length of the ban. "Normally for such a violation the ... ban is two years," he said, adding that the UCI would consider whether to appeal the decision.

Blood transfusions increase an athlete's red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the muscles.