Tour's new drug scandal

SPAIN'S Moises Duenas Nevado tested positive for the blood boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO) after the fourth stage of the Tour de France, the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) revealed today.

The 27-year-old Barloworld rider was immediately withdrawn from the race by his team after he became the second Spaniard in less than a week to fail a drugs test.

"We notified Moises Duenas Nevado that he had tested positive for EPO after the fourth stage this morning at 9.00am," said AFLD president Pierre Bordry.

Police raided the hotel were Duenas Nevado's team were staying before the start of today's 11th stage and left with the rider who was to be questioned, witnesses said.

"This is unbelievable," Barloworld team manager Claudio Corti told reporters.I didn't even have time to talk to him."

Rocked in recent years by a number of doping scandals, this year's race had been free of controversy until last Friday , when Liquigas rider Manuel Beltran was arrested by French police after it was announced he had tested positive, also for EPO.

Australia's Cadel Evans was leading the race before today's stage, a 167.5km ride from Lannemezan to Foix.