EON

Paris – Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen has been kicked out of the race by his own Rabobank team, the Dutch outfit has revealed.

The Danish rider had seemingly overcome controversy over missing four dope tests in the past 18 months.

He won Wednesday’s stage and looked to clinch overall victory.

However the team has learnt that Rasmussen lied to them over where he was and what he was doing during the month of June.

“He broke team rules,” said Jacob Bergsma, the team spokesman.

Rasmussen had won two stages during the Tour but his presence at the race was questioned by several officials and race organisers.

His departure leaves young Spaniard Alberto Contador in the lead with Australian Cadel Evans in second.

Anti-doping expert Michele Verokken told Sky News: “The future of the Tour de France is in jeopardy”.

Italian Cristiano Moreni exited on Wednesday after failing a drugs test and Khazakstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov was thrown out on Tuesday after testing positive for blood doping.