Tour de France: The Liquigas team have vowed to tear up Manuel Beltran's contract if his drug shame is confirmed.
Beltran was withdrawn from the Tour de France yesterday after it emerged that he tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance EPO following the first stage of the Tour last weekend.
The Spanish rider is protesting his innocence but if his B sample is also positive, Liquigas claim they will immediately sack the 37-year-old.
"We were surprised by this announcement," said general manager Roberto Amadio. "Our first decision was to suspend Manuel. He told us that he didn't do anything bad and that he wanted a counter-analysis.
"Until then we can't do anything but if it turns out that the B sample is positive, his contract will be ended."
Drugs have tainted cycling — and in particular its most prestigious event — in recent years but the sport appeared to be cleaning up its act with the French anti-doping agency revealing on Friday that no illegal substances were found in tests taken before the start of the Tour.
If Beltran's second sample is also positive he will become the first rider to fail a doping test during this year's event.