First ProTour Cyclist from China Suspended for Doping

A Chinese rider on Lance Armstrong’s Team RadioShack was suspended Thursday for testing positive for a banned product during a Belgian race.

The International Cycling Union said Li Fuyu tested positive for Clenbuterol, an anabolic agent that can be used to reduce body fat. The result came from an in-competition test on March 23 in the Dwars Door Vlaanderen.

The UCI said it notified the 31-year-old rider of the “provisional” suspension that will remain in effect until China’s cycling federation determines whether Li was doping.

The UCI said the rider can request a B sample of the positive test conducted in a WADA-accredited lab in Ghent, Belgium.

RadioShack said Li has been suspended and will be fired from the team if his B sample confirms the positive test.

“If that test is positive the rider will be removed from the team,” RadioShack said in a statement. “Team RadioShack and its management take this incident very seriously. We will respect the rights of our rider but will enforce our zero-tolerance policy should his B sample test positive.”

Li was the first Chinese professional to join a ProTour team in 2007.

PARIS (AP)