Paris - Dmitri Fofonov of Kazakhstan has tested positive for an illegal stimulant on the Tour de France, the web site of the daily L'Equipe reported Sunday. The 31-year-old rider for the Credit Agricole team was found to have traces of the banned substance heptaminol in his body after Thursday's 18th stage.
Heptaminol is an amino alcohol which is classified as a vasodilator and is sometimes used in the treatment of low blood pressure.
Fofonov, who stood 19th in the standings of the Tour, which ended Sunday, told his team that he had purchased a product against cramps over the internet. But he was immediately fired by Credit Agricole manager Roger Legeay.
Fofonov is the fourth rider to have been found using a banned substance in the race. Spaniards Moises Duenas and Manuel Beltran and the young Italian Riccardo Ricco were all booted out of the race after testing positive for forms of the blood booster EPO.
