Barloworld rider Moisés Dueñas is being questioned by French police in Tarbes after testing positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in a routine control at the end of the fourth stage.

Under new French legislation passed at the start of this month, doping offenders now face maximum prison terms of five years as well as €75,000 euro fines for illegal drug possession.

The 27 year old from Béjar, who was immediately withdrawn from the race and suspended by his team, becomes the second rider to fall foul of stricter dope testing at this year's Tour after compatriot Manuel Beltrán was caught out in similar circumstances at the end of the first stage.

Spanish Tour rider suspended after positive dope test
By: thinkSPAIN
Saturday, July 12, 2008

Manuel Beltrán is being questioned by French police after becoming the first rider to test positive for banned substances during this year's Tour.

The 37 year old from Jaén tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO, was taken into custody following a search of his hotel room, and has been suspended by the Liquigas team.

Beltrán was targeted after an anomaly in his pre-Tour blood sample and tested at the end of the first Brest-Plumelec stage last Saturday, July 5th.

Since turning professional in 1995, Beltrán has won four major victories: the Puertos Classic in 1997, the Vuelta de Catalunya, including a stage win, in 1999, and a stage win during last season's Vuelta al País Vasco.

Beltrán becomes the fourth former team-mate of Lance Armstrong to fail routine doping tests, the others being; Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton and Roberto Heras.

The photo shows Beltrán (right) being escorted yesterday from the Hotel des Voyageurs in Le Rouget, where the Liquigas team is staying.