Astana's promising reserve team rider Ilkhan Dostiyev has been suspended by the UCI after testing positive for a doping substance in July, his team announced on Tuesday.

"The rider has admitted using the banned substance and has provided explanations to the team and the UCI," Astana said in a statement.

Immediate Suspension And Contract Termination

"Ilkhan Dostiyev has been immediately suspended, and his contract has been terminated," the team confirmed.

According to the UCI's list of doping offenders, updated on Monday, the 22-year-old Kazakh tested positive on July 30 for CERA, a third-generation EPO that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

At the time, he was participating in the Tour of Hainan in China.

Astana's Disappointment

Dostiyev was one of the promising riders in the Astana reserve team, whose main squad is led by Alexandr Vinokourov, who was himself banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France.

Dostiyev had shown a glimpse of his potential by finishing second in the Tour of Rwanda last February.

"We had high hopes for him," said Alexandr Shushemoin, sports director of the Astana development team, in a statement.

"I can assure with certainty that Astana Qazaqstan Development Team has no connection with this incident."