Former Olympic champion Sanchez fails doping test

FILE PHOTO: Euskaltel - Euskadi's Samuel Sanchez celebrates after taking the Mountain Leader's Jersey Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Pete Goding

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spain's former Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez has been suspended with immediate effect after testing positive for banned growth hormones, cycling's governing body said on Thursday.

Sanchez, 39, won the 2008 Olympic road race in Beijing and five individual stages in the Vuelta a Espana between 2005 and 2007 as well as an individual stage on the 2011 Tour de France.