Vinokourov Scandal Rocks Tour Riders

If you can't trust him, the event is doomed, Brit rider cautions
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2007 7:21 AM CDT
Vinokourov Scandal Rocks Tour Riders
Kazakhstans Alexandre Vinokourov (Astan   (Getty Images)

Cycling darling Alexander Vinokourov was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France yesterday after testing positive for an illicit blood transfusion. The Kazakh had won two stages of the race and climbed to the 23rd spot after crashing in the fifth stage. He denied doing anything illegal and indicated the crash may have affected the test, ESPN reports.

Scottish rider David Millar, 30, who has fought against doping since he admitted using performance enhancers after winning a world championship, wept at the news and called "Vino" one of the "most beautiful" riders. "If a rider of his stature has done this, we might as well pack up our bags and leave," Millar said. (More Alexander Vinokourov stories.)

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