British Cycling descended deeper into crisis on Thursday night after it emerged that one of their leading riders has failed a drugs test.

Sportsmail can reveal that Simon Yates, a road specialist and a former world champion on the track who is funded by British Cycling and is a member of the Olympic podium programme, is understood to have tested positive after a stage of the Paris-Nice race last month.

The 23-year-old, rated as one of the brightest prospects in British cycling alongside his twin brother Adam, has been among those contesting a place in the British team for the Olympic road race in Rio de Janeiro this summer.

Sportsmail can reveal Simon Yates is understood to have tested positive after a stage of the Paris-Nice race

Yates celebrates gold in the points race on day three of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2013

The 23-year-old cyclist, pictured winning stage six of the 2013 Tour of Britain, is considered a bright prospect

SO, WHO IS SIMON YATES? The Bury-born rider, 23, won gold in the points race at the 2013 World Championships. That year he also saw off Bradley Wiggins to win stage six of the Tour of Britain. His twin brother Adam is also a cyclist. Advertisement

But the immediate future of the Bury-born cyclist is now uncertain. On Thursday night, his Orica-GreenEDGE team confirmed his positive test for the asthma drug Terbutaline — but blamed their team doctor.

A statement issued by a British Cycling spokesman to Sportsmail said: ‘British Cycling can confirm that it has been notified by the UCI of a potential anti-doping rule violation against a British rider based on an analysis of a sample provided in competition.

‘As with any other doping violation charge at this level, those proceedings will be managed independently of British Cycling by the UCI.’

In a week when British Cycling are reeling from the discrimination scandal - exposed by Sportsmail - that has led to the resignation of technical director Shane Sutton, this will come as a hammer blow.

Shane Sutton resigned as British Cycling technical director on Wednesday after allegations of bullying

That said, Yates has little contact with the British Cycling programme in Manchester, since he is now on the pro tour.

Yates is a product of British Cycling, having been selected at 18 for the Olympic academy programme.

He won points race gold in the 2013 World Track Championships and now rides for the Australian professional team, Orica-GreenEDGE.

He finished seventh in the Paris-Nice, once again underlining his prowess as a climber and someone considered a future Tour de France contender.

He impressed in last year’s race, placing eighth on Stage Three, which finished on the brutally steep Mur de Huy, and 11th on the penultimate Alpe d’Huez stage.

Orica-GreenEDGE said In their statement on Thursday night: ‘The positive result is for the substance Terbutaline. It was given in an ongoing treatment of Simon Yates’ documented asthma problems.

‘However, the team doctor made an administrative error by failing to apply for the TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemptions) required for the use of this treatment. The doctor in question has taken full responsibility, There has been no wrong-doing on Simon Yates’ part.’

British Cycling has been plunged further into crisis with Yates failing a drugs test coming as a hammer blow