Rabobank has kicked Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen out of the competition and off its team for lying about his whereabouts prior to the start of the race.

Rasmussen has been at the centre of controversy since it was revealed that he missed several drugs tests. Now Rabobank has discovered that he lied about being in Mexico in June when he was in fact in Italy.
‘Rabobank is shocked and enormously disappointed that Rasmussen lied about where he was,’ the bank said in a statement. The lie, the statement continued, was a flagrant breach of international cycling union rules.
Rabobank said it was not yet planning to withdraw from cycling sponsorship but was now considering its position. Two teams, Astana and Cofidis, have been withdrawn from the Tour after doping scandals.
On Thursday Rabobank said its traditional end-of-tour party in Paris would take place as normal. But bank advertising campaigns were being revised and the cake ordered for all Rabobank staff if Rasmussen won as expected had been cancelled, ANP reported.