Russian Olympic medal hope Denis Galimzyanov has received a provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, the UCI international cycling federation said Monday.
The specialist sprinter has been tipped as a possible rival for Britain’s Mark Cavendish at the London Olympics in August by his coach, six-time Tour de France winner Erik Zabel.
A urine sample Galimzyanov gave last month tested positive for the EPO hormone, which boosts red blood cell production, the UCI said.
“The provisional suspension of Mr. Galimzyanov remains in force until a hearing panel convened by the Russian Cycling Federation determines whether he has committed an anti-doping rule violation,” the UCI said in a statement on its website.
Galimzyanov, 24, had been widely tipped to lead the Russian road race team in London and started 2012 with a stage win at the Circuit de la Sarthe before retiring injured.
In 2011, the Katusha rider won the points classification at both the Tour of Beijing and the Three Days of de Panne.
