The International Cycling Union (UCI) have handed Astarloza a provisional ban from cycling competitively until a hearing is heard by the federation’s disciplinary commission. However, the ban could be prolonged to two years should the Spaniard’s B sample test positive for the illegal substance. In recent times measures across all sports have taken a proactive approach to drug testing, with peremptory action taken against cheaters; thus the strict enforcements the UCI has admonished should hardly come as a surprise.

The UCI released a statement earlier "On Friday, the UCI advised Spanish rider Mikel Astarloza that he has been provisionally suspended. The decision to provisionally suspend Mr. Astarloza was made in response to a report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Madrid indicating an adverse analytical finding of recombinant EPO in a urine sample collected from him at an out-of-competition test on 26 June 2009. The provisional suspension remains in force until a hearing panel convened by the Spanish Cycling Federation determines whether Mr Astarloza has committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules. The hearing panel will make a decision on an applicable sanction for Mr. Astarloza including his disqualification from any events in which he competed following the collection of the sample on 26 June."

As well as Astarloza, many other racers were forced to take random drug tests. Great Britain‚Äôs Bradley Wiggins, who finished in fourth place for the Tournament, passed all the tests. In an interesting act, Wiggin‚Äôs own team Garmin-Slipstream have publically disclosed the cyclist‚Äôs blood profiles which span the 2009 calendar year, including the Tour de France as well as some of 2008. Speaking and extolling the idea of making his tests public, he said "I don’t want there to be any suspicion or doubt that what I did was natural. I have nothing to hide and I want this transparency. If more people did that, fans would have a lot more respect for our achievements. British Cycling have all my blood tests results from the age of 19 and I might even release everything from the last 10 years."

Garmin-Slipstream noted that Wiggin‚Äôs analysis showed no signs of drugs misuse, as well as showing he is an apotheosis and role model for the cycling sport. The team noted his tests "indicate no evidence of blood manipulation.‚Äù The chief executive of Slipstream Sports also added "Brad is an exceptionally talented athlete and it was great to see him do so well in the Tour de France. He’s always been an outspoken advocate of clean cycling. He requested that we release his results after the Tour and his decision makes me and the entire team proud."