Astana rider Dostiyev suspended by UCI and sacked by team after doping

"The rider has admitted using the banned substance and has provided explanations to the team and the UCI," Astana said in a statement.

"Ilkhan Dostiyev has been immediately suspended, and his contract has been terminated."

According to the UCI's list of doping offenders, updated on Monday, the Kazakh tested positive on July 30th for CERA, a third-generation EPO that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

At the time, he was taking part in the Tour of Hainan in China.

Dostiyev was one of the promising riders in the Astana reserve team, whose main squad is led by Alexandr Vinokourov, who was himself banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France.

Dostiyev had shown a glimpse of his promise by coming second in the Tour of Rwanda last February.

"We had high hopes for him," said Alexandr Shushemoin, sports director of the Astana development team in a statement.

"I can assure with certainty that Astana Qazaqstan Development Team has no connection with this incident."