Iban Mayo

MADRID, 22 Oct (CP) - Spaniard Iban Mayo Diez has been cleared of doping after his B-sample turned out negative. The Spanish Cycling Federation has shelved the Saunier Duval rider's case.

The Basque climber tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO on this year's Tour de France's second rest day. The rider requested the B-sample to be tested a few days later but, since then, it's been all silence.

That changed today, however, when the rider was informed by his country's cycling federation that the counter-analysis returned negative. An error had occured in the process of testing the original sample, which lead to the positive result.

Mayo says he expects to ride for Saunier Duval again next year, as he signed a two-year deal this season.

© Magnus Aarre