MADRID, May 6, 2008 (AFP) – Spanish cyclist Patxi Vila of the Lampre team tested positive in March for testosterone and was dropped from the list of racers who were pre-registered for the Tour of Italy, sports daily AS reported Tuesday.

The 32-year-old tested positive in a surprise drugs test carried out on March 3 at his home by the International Cycling Union, the paper said.

Vila has asked for a “B” sample to be analyzed since the amount of the banned substance found in the first test was very small, it said citing sources close to the cyclist.

The racer was only informed of the test result last week which is why he did not take part in the fourth stage of the Tour of Romandie in Switzerland.
He will miss the Tour of Italy which gets underway on Saturday in Palermo