The entire Astana team has been removed from the Tour de France on the 2nd rest day in Pau after Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive in a drug test taken after the time trial in Albi. His test showed evidence of an illegal blood transfusion and the Tour organisers immediately asked the team to leave the Tour.

After the controversy surrounding last year's Tour still not yet resolved and after an eerily familiar scenario as last year - Vino gets smashed in the mountains one day only to come back and dramatically win the next almost mirroring Floyd Landis' comeback - this is the absolute last thing the sport needs. Fighting for credibility in the fight against drug cheating, there is going to be a lot of fallout from this.

I think Saunier-Duval's reaction probably best sums up my own : "Jesus Christ - there you go, that's my quote," he blurted out. "What timing, huh? This is just fucking great."

Related stories can be found:

Cyclingnews : Tour de France responds to Vinokourov disgrace
Daily Peloton : Kazachstan Railways derailed
Velonews : Vinokourov tests positive; Astana withdraws from Tour
Le Tour.fr : LE TOUR DE FRANCE OBTAINS THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE ASTANA TEAM