Spaniard Garcia Quesada suspended over doping probe

MADRID, July 1 (Reuters) Carlos Garcia Quesada was provisionally suspended by the Belgian-based Unibet.com team after his name appeared on a list of riders involved in a doping investigation in his native Spain.

''Until we have more information from the UCI (International Cycling Union) we won't let Quesada compete,'' Unibet.com sporting manager Hilaire van der Schuren told the team's website.

Van der Schuren said Quesada would be replaced by Australian Matthew Wilson for next week's Tour of Austria.

The names of more than 50 riders appeared in a report by Spanish police after large quantities of anabolic steroids, laboratory equipment used for blood transfusions and more than 100 bags of frozen blood were found in raids on addresses in Madrid and Zaragoza.

Pre-race favourites Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso and Francisco Mancebo were withdrawn by their teams from the Tour de France on Friday after their names appeared in the report.

The Tour de France started in Strasbourg earlier today with a 7.1-km prologue.

Reuters PM BD1726