Spanish cyclists punished for doping

Spanish rider Oscar Sevilla was provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union on Thursday for suspected blood doping, four years after he was connected to the Operation Puerto investigation.

The UCI said Sevilla tested positive for hydroxyethyl starch — which increases blood volume — in a urine sample taken at the Tour of Colombia last month.

Sevilla joined a Colombian team this season following two years with the U.S.-based Rock Racing squad, which folded after the UCI denied it a license to race.

Sevilla is suspended until the Spanish Cycling Federation holds a disciplinary hearing.

The 33-year-old rider can request and attend a laboratory analysis of his backup sample.

He raced the 2005-06 seasons for German team T-Mobile but was fired because of alleged connections to the Puerto doping case in Spain.

Sevilla and teammate Jan Ullrich were prevented from racing in the 2006 Tour de France after the investigation into an alleged athletes' doping ring was publicized.

No case was brought against Sevilla.

At the 2001 Tour, Sevilla led the best young rider classification and finished seventh overall.

Later that season, he was runner-up in the Spanish Vuelta.

Jimenez banned, likely to retire

Fellow Spaniard Eladio Jimenez, meanwhile, has been banned for two years for doping with the blood-boosting hormone EPO.

The ICU says the suspension was imposed by Spain's national federation, which also fined him $11,000.

The dates for his ban were not disclosed.

Jimenez failed a doping test after winning stage six of the Tour of Portugal for the CC Loule team last August.

The 34-year-old rider said last December that he would retire if banned.

Jimenez's career highlights were stage wins at the Spanish Vuelta in 2000, '04 and '05.