BMC Racing, the team that world champion Cadel Evans rides for, have suspended Thomas Frei after the Swiss rider tested positive for the banned blood-booster erythropoietin, the American outfit said on Thursday.

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"It has come to our attention that Thomas Frei (pictured) has been informed that he was tested A-positive regarding the use of EPO," BMC president Jim Ochowicz said in a team statement.

"As a consequence, the BMC Racing Team and its members have made the decision to withhold Thomas Frei from competition, in accordance with the BMC Racing Team's own policy."

Earlier this month, BMC provisionally suspended Italians Alessandro Ballan and Mauro Santambrogio after the two were involved in a doping probe in their home country.

Both riders were formerly with the Lampre team, which has been targeted by the investigation.