October 23, 2007 (Madrid, Spain) — The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) communicated to Iban Mayo (Saunier-Duval) yesterday that he did not test positive for doping during the 2007 Tour de France declared Mayo’s lawyer, José Rodriguez, according to AFP. This was based on a negative test of his B sample in a Belgian laboratory after his A sample tested positive in a French laboratory. The UCI quickly retorted that the B sample analysis done in Belgium was incomplete therefore NOT negative according to another AFP report today.

UCI anti-doping manager Anne Gripper said in Paris today that the Gand Laboratory in Belgium and the Châtenay-Malabry Laboratory in France use different analysis methods adding that the sample could not be read in Belgium and was sent back to France for analysis five or six weeks ago. Gripper asked the RFEC for a full explanation of the events and also said that Mayo should indicate to the UCI if he will send a representative when the B sample is analyzed at Châtenay-Malabry.

Mayo, 30, tested positive for EPO (erythropoietin) on July 24 during the second rest day in the Pyrenees. He was subsequently suspended by his team with no salary.