Kolobnev denies wrongdoing after failed dope test

AURILLAC, France, July 12 (Reuters) - Russian Alexandr Kolobnev, who withdrew from the Tour de France on Monday after testing positive for a diuretic, has denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not know where the banned substance came from.

“Yesterday, during the rest day it was reported the laboratories had found a substance, hydrochlorothiazide,” Kolobnev said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I do not know where it (the substance) comes from.”

On Monday, French police searched the Katusha rider’s hotel room but “found nothing suspicious”, according to the 2004 and 2010 Russian champion, who insisted he had not been sacked.

“I have not been fired,” he said.

If the B sample turns out to be positive, however, Kolobnev would be sacked from Katusha, according to the team’s regulations.