Michael Rasmussen kicked off Tour de France

After winning the last stage of Tour de France, Michael Rasmussen was kicked out off his team.

Michael Rasmussen kicked off Tour de France The bad spell over Tour de France still lingers over the competition. After years of doping scandals, it seemed that 2007 will be the "clean" year for the Tour. But scandal after scandal are dooming the future of Tour de France.

First, it was Alexandre Vinokourov, who dropped dirty on his A-test. And now Michael Rasmussen has been kicked off the team.

Rasmussen, who won the 16th stage and it was the leader was sensationally kicked out of the race by his own Rabobank team. It seemed that the Dane will weather out the storm brewing over his four missed tests in the last 18 months. But his team had learned that Rasmussen lied to them about his whereabouts last month. Michael Rasmussen told the team he was in Mexico, but it turned out that he was actually in Italy. According to team's spokesman, this was a serious breach in team's rules. It is not even known if the Rabobank team will continue the race.

Rassmussen's ejection elevates Australian Cadel Evans to second place overall, one minute 53 seconds behind Spaniard Alberto Contador, who has assumed the tour lead with only four days to go.

Published on 07/25/2007