For the second time in his cycling career, Frank Schelck is taking an early exit from the Tour de France, but this time is a bit more crippling to his image.
Schleck, who hails from Luxembourg, tested positive for the substance Xipamide, a diuretic, on Saturday, according to the International Cycling Union and reported by the New York Times. One might infer that Schleck was looking to increase his rate of uriniation to flush out an additional banned substances from his system.
Anti-doping bylaws do not specify that a rider must be suspended if he tests positive for a diuretic, but the decision to remove Schleck from the Tour de France came from his Radioshack-Nissan-Trek team.
So, basically, this could be a sort of self-imposed sanction as a means of preventing more damaging penalties.
In 2010, Schleck exited Le Grande Boucle early after breaking his collarbone. Last year he finished third in the race, and was currently in 12th place in the 2012 Tour de France, sitting just under 10 minutes behind leader Bradley Wiggins.
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