AG2R La Mondiale rider withdrawn from Tour of Beijing after September out of competition test result announced

AG2R La Mondiale’s Steve Houanard has been provisionally suspended after returning an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for EPO, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced. The 27-year-old Frenchman was part of his team’s roster at the Tour of Beijing, and has been immediately withdrawn from the race.



The sample was collected in a random out of competition test on September 21st, and analysed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited lab in Barcelona, Spain.



Houanard is coming to the end of a two year contract with AG2R La Mondiale, having made a somewhat conflicted transfer from Skil-Shimano last year. His 2012 season failed to produce a result of note, with his biggest result being 22nd in the GP de Québec last month, and has yet to take a victory since turning professional in 2009.



The French rider’s suspension remains provisional until a disciplinary panel from the French Cycling Federation (FFC) determines whether he has committed a doping violation under article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules. Houanard has the right to request, and attend, the analysis of the B-sample, should he want to question the AAF.