Aigle, Switzerland - Spain's Mikel Astarloza was suspended with immediate effect Thursday by cycling's ruling body UCI over a failed dope test.

The 29-year-old tested positive at a doping control on June 26 for the banned blood-booster EPO, eight days before the start of the Tour de France.

Astarloza won the 16th stage of this year's Tour and the Euskaltel-Euskadi rider now faces seeing his name removed from the race results list. There were no positive dope tests during this year's Tour. (dpa)