Spaniard Eladio Jimenez has been suspended after a sample taken at the Tour of Portugal in August tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said earlier today.

Jimenez, who has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample, will remain suspended until a Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) hearing determines whether he violated the UCI's anti-doping rules, the Union said (www.uci.ch).

Jimenez has won several stages on the Tour of Spain during his career, most recently the 14th stage in the 2005 race.