July 18, 2012 (Pau, France) – The failed doping test of Luxemburg rider Fränk René Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) at the 2012 Tour de France continues to draw media attention as earlier today the press corp scrambled as news of Schleck’s positive A sample test traveled through the Tour caravan and soon after around the world. As reported, Schleck tested positive for xipamide, a sulfonamide diuretic drug marketed by Eli Lilly for the treatment of oedema and hypertension.

His RadioShack team pulled Schleck out of the TdF and declared: “[Xipamide] is not a product that is present in any of the medicine that the team uses and the reason for the presence of xipamide in the urine sample of Mr. Schleck is unclear to the team. Therefore, the team is not able to explain the adverse findings at this point.” (full statement below).

Official word came around midday from the UCI… “Earlier today, the UCI advised the Luxembourger rider Frank Schleck of an Adverse Analytical Finding (presence of the diuretic xipamide based on the report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry) in the urine sample collected from him at an in-competition test at the Tour de France on 14 July 2012.” – (full statement below.)

Schleck, who maintains not to have knowingly taken any banned substances, has requested an analysis of his B sample. In a statement to media he declared that, “If this [B sample] analysis confirms the first result, a complaint will be filed against an unspecified person for poisoning.” No further details were forthcoming…

Meanwhile, assuming that Schleck’s B sample comes back negative, RadioShack will continue to suspend the 32-year-old rider reports AP. Is all of this an over-reaction? The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) defines “specified substances” like xipamide as those that are “…more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation.”

Reaction in the peloton was not favourable given Schleck’s high profile and that issues like this tend to wash the entire event and the sport with the same dark cloud of suspicion.

Schleck, who was 12th in the GC on Tuesday, finished third overall at the 2011 TdF. He is known for being a knock-kneed rider who pedals at high cadence on climbs. Not only is Schleck’s younger brother, Andy (RadioShack-Nissan) holding the 2010 TdF title, but his father, Johnny and grandfather, Gustave were notable cyclists in their day according to Wikipedia.

Read more HERE.

RadioShack Nissan Statement

Our team attaches great value to transparency. Because of this, we can announce the following as a response to the adverse analytical finding of Xipamide in Fränk Schleck’s urine sample of July 14 during the Tour de France.

After being informed by the UCI about the presence of Xipamide in the urine sample of Fränk Schleck on July 14, the team has decided to immediately withdraw Fränk Schleck from the Tour de France.

Even though an abnormal A sample does not require these measures, Mr. Schleck and the team believe this is the right thing to do, to ensure the Tour de France can go on in calm and that Fränk Schleck can prepare his defense in accordance with the legal timing to do so.

On the subject of Xipamide the team can declare the following: it is not a product that is present in any of the medicine that the team uses and the reason for the presence of Xipamide in the urine sample of Mr. Schleck is unclear to the team. Therefore, the team is not able to explain the adverse findings at this point.

However, the team is fully determined to collaborate with the anti-doping agencies in order to resolve the matter.

UCI Statement (version française en bas)
Adverse Analytical Finding for Frank Schleck

Earlier today, the UCI advised the Luxembourger rider Frank Schleck  of  an Adverse Analytical Finding (presence of the diuretic Xipamide based on the report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry) in the urine sample collected from him at an in competition test at the Tour de France on 14 July 2012.

Mr. Schleck has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample.

The UCI Anti-Doping Rules do not provide for a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a specified substance.

However, the UCI is confident that his team will take the necessary steps to enable the Tour de France to continue in serenity and to ensure that their rider has the opportunity to properly prepare his defense in particular within the legal timeline, which allows four days for him to have his B sample analyzed.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the UCI is unable to provide any additional information at this time.

UCI Communications Services

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Résultat d’analyse anormal pour Frank Schleck    (version française)

L’UCI a informé aujourd’hui le coureur luxembourgeois Frank Schleck  de l’existence d’un résultat d’analyse anormal (présence du diurétique Xipamide, selon le rapport en provenance du Laboratoire – accrédité par l’AMA – de Châtenay-Malabry) dans un échantillon d’urine prélevé sur lui lors d’un contrôle en compétition effectué lors du Tour de France le 14 juillet 2012.

M. Schleck a le droit de demander l’analyse de son échantillon B et d’y assister.

Le Règlement Antidopage de l’UCI ne prévoit pas la suspension provisoire vu la nature de la substance, qui est une substance spécifiée.

Néanmoins, l’UCI est confiante que son équipe entreprendra les démarches nécessaires pour garantir la sérénité du Tour de France et en même temps offrir au coureur le temps nécessaire pour préparer sa défense, notamment dans le délai réglementaire de 4 jours pour la réalisation de l’analyse de son échantillon B.

Conformément au Code Mondial Antidopage et à son Règlement Antidopage, l’UCI ne peut fournir d’autres informations à ce stade.

Service Communication UCI