The 24-year-old Ricco, winner of two mountain stages, provided a urine sample which contained the banned substance CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator), French sports daily L'Equipe reported earlier on its website.

Ricco was questioned by gendarmes before the start of yesterday's 12th stage between Lavlanet and Narbonne.

He was then driven away by them in a Saunier Duval team car.

Ricco was one of the riders particularly targeted by the AFLD during the race and had been tested at least four times, L'Equipe reported.

All tests on the Tour are being carried out by AFLD because the race is being held under the auspices of the French federation.

The Italian won stages six and nine and is in ninth position overall 2min 29sec behind Australian race leader Cadel Evans.

He becomes the third rider to fail a drugs test in this year's race after Spanish riders Moises Duenas of Barloworld and Manuel Beltran of Liquigas also tested positive for EPO.

Catch all the action on the tour over the weekend on SuperSport.

See television schedules elsewhere on this page.

Nampa-AFP

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