Amsterdam - The Astana cycling team on Monday announced the firing of star rider Alexandre Vinokourov over a doping offence at the Tour de France.
The same day the Dutch Rabobank said will investigate the affair around its rider Michael Rasmussen at the French race through an external, independent person.
The Tour de France ended on Sunday with Spain's Alberto Contador as winner after inheriting the yellow jersey from Rasmussen, who was kicked out of the race.
But there were further claims in France and Germany on Monday that Contador's win may also be tainted.
Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping after winning the 14th stage on July 21, a time trial in Albi. The Kazakh was kicked out of the Tour last Tuesday and the result of the b-test, which confirmed the original finding, prompted Astana to fire him on Monday.
'Astana Cycling Team received the confirmation that the B-sample of Alexandre Vinokourov was also 'non negative.' The rider is then fired from the Astana Cycling Team with immediate effect,' Astana said in a brief statement.
Vinokourov, who protests his innocence, faces a two-year ban from competition, and according to new rules a one-year salary fine.
Rabobank spokesman Rene Loman said the investigation will focus on the question whether the decision to fire Rasmussen on Wednesday night had been the right one. The second objective was to answer unsolved questions concerning Rasmussen's whereabouts prior to the Tour.
Loman said the investigation was necessary to 'evaluate the state of affairs prior to and during the tour. Everyone knows much has happened.'
Rabobank, main sponsor of one of the cycling teams in the Tour de France, fired the Dane Rasmussen after it turned out that the rider lied in connection with missed doping tests ahead of the Tour.
Rasmussen was the Tour de France leader at the time. He has insisted that he didn't lie.
Loman also said that Rabobank will not reconsider its continued sponsorship of the cycling sport in general.
'We have been involved in cycling for more than twelve years, sponsoring all sorts of cycling activities. Cycling remains an authentic Dutch sport. We will remain active as sponsors.'
He added Rabobank is 'very proud of its whole team, and particularly of (original team captain) Michael Boogerd. He pulled off some major achievements in the final days of the Tour, despite everything.'
The Rasmussen affair was the final shock in the tainted Tour - with Vinokourov and Italy's Cristian Moreni kicked out after positive doping tests and German Patrik Sinkewitz revealed after his injury- related withdrawal to have failed a pre-Tour test.
While many in Spain rejoiced on Contador's title - the AS daily even said his victory signalled a new era - other's weren't so sure.
Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport said that 'Contador's jersey is tainted by suspicion,' and French daily Le Monde as well as Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) suggested that Contador may be deeper involved into the Spanish doping probe around doctor Eufemiano Fuentes than so far known.
Contador has protested his innocence over the past days and, despite alleged evidence that he was part of the scheme, has escaped sanctions from Spanish sports authorities.
But German activist Werner Franke, who played a leading role in uncovering the systematic doping in East Germany after the nation's reunification, lashed out in the direction of Spain.
'This Mr Contador is part of several lists, including those evidence lists from the Guardia Civil,' Franke told German ZDF television. 'I have them in front of me, I can decipher immediately which substances were taken.'
Franke said he was in possession of the Spanish probe's documents, seemingly including one list also mentioned by Le Monde and the SZ which allegedly never reached the ruling body UCI or Tour organizers.
Franke alleged that 'there recently occurred something like a deal between the UCI and the Spanish justice authorities, who covered it all up and simply lied.'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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