Saunier Duval has pulled out of cycling after the team it sponsored was engulfed in a drug scandal at the Tour de France.

Saunier Duval acted after its Italian rider Riccardo Ricco failed a dope test, prompting the elite team to pull out of the Tour de France last week.

A statement issued by Saunier Duval on Wednesday confirmed: "This decision by the company was taken following the recent case of doping involving one of the team's cyclists, Riccardo Ricco, and the suspicions against another cyclist."

Both Ricco and his compatriot Leonardo Piepoli, who had won the prestigious Bastille Day stage on July 14 but had not failed a dope test, were sacked last Friday.

AFP