March 11, 2006 – One of Eastern Europe’s female cycling stars, 34 year old Zinaida Stahurskaya, has received a two-year ban from the Belrussian Cycling Federation after having tested positive for banned substances on three occasions in 2005.

Tests performed after the GP European Carnival in Italy on July 16 revealed the anabolic steroid stanozolol. On July 31 and on August 7, Stahurskaya tested positive for testosterone at the Tour of San Marino and Tour of Bochum in Germany.

Stahurskaya was the winner of the Women’s Road World Champion in 2000 and winner of the Women’s Tour de France in 2002. There is no indication that these titles will be revoked.