Luca Paolini exits Tour de France after testing positive for cocaine

Team Katusha rider Luca Paolini has been sent home from the Tour de France after testing positive for cocaine.

The 38-year-old returned the positive sample on Tuesday, and will not start tomorrow's stage.

"In accordance with UCI anti-doping rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair," the UCI said in a statement.

Paolini, who won Ghent-Wevelgem earlier this year, has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample.