Monday 27 June 2016 09:43, UK
Simon Yates will miss the Tour de France next month because of a four-month ban, his Orica-GreenEdge team has confirmed.
The Briton has been in limbo since returning a positive test for the banned substance Terbutaline during Paris-Nice in March.
His team admitted responsibility for the mistake, with the substance having been included in an asthma inhaler he was using, and they revealed on Friday he had been given a four-month ban by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
The suspension was given, according to the UCI, for a "non-intentional anti-doping rule violation" but the timing of it means Yates will not be back in time for the Tour de France as it expires nine days after that race starts.
He will instead return to racing in the Tour of Poland on July 12.
"Simon has been given a four-month sanction by the UCI given the administrative error in not having a required TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) for his asthma inhaler at Paris-Nice," said Orica-GreenEdge general manager Shayne Bannan.
"The team has taken full responsibility for this all along and we look forward to seeing Simon back racing.
"It has been an unfortunate break due to circumstances that Simon cannot be blamed for, but above all we are happy that is has now come to a conclusion.
"Simon has been training well and we welcome him back on the roster for a strong second part of the season."
