Article: It's become Tour de Farce; Tour de France leader Rasmussen sacked by own team.(Sports News)

GOURETTE, France (AP) -- Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen was removed from the race by his Rabobank team after winning Wednesday's stage, the biggest blow yet in cycling's doping-tainted premier event.

"Michael Rasmussen has been sent home for violating (the team's) internal rules," Rabobank spokesman Jacob Bergsma told The Associated Press by phone. The team also suspended him.

The expulsion, which Bergsma said was ordered by the Dutch team's sponsor, was linked to "incorrect" information that Rasmussen gave to the team's sports director over his whereabouts last month.

Rasmussen missed random drug tests on May 8 and June 28, saying he ...

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