Hamilton in first postive test for blood doping

American cyclist Tyler Hamilton, who won the Olympic time trial gold medal at Athens, faces a two-year ban after becoming the first ever athlete to give a positive test for blood doping.

American cyclist Tyler Hamilton, who won the Olympic time trial gold medal last month, faces a two-year ban after becoming the first ever athlete to give a positive test for blood doping.

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The 33-year-old tested positive after winning the Tour of Spain's eighth stage time trial on September 11 and he pulled out of the Tour six days later.

Hamilton's Swiss Phonak team confirmed the positive result and news of the second sample is expected within 48 hours.

Hamilton has denied doping however, according to a source within his team, though a press conference was expected to be arranged shortly.

The UCI has for the first time used a method to detect blood-doping which has been used in legal medicine for paternity tests. The tests were developed in Sydney and are now used by two accredited laboratories in Athens and Lausanne, Switzerland.

The test can identify different groups of red blood cells which thereby determines conclusively whether blood-doping has taken place.

Usually an athlete will withdraw blood before reintroducing it before an event to increase oxygen-carrying capacity to the muscles hence enhancing his performance.