Spain axe Puiggros Miranda

Janet Puiggros Miranda has been dropped from Spain's Olympic cycling team after a positive drugs test, Spain's Cycling Federation said on Wednesday.

Puiggros Miranda had erythropoietin (EPO) in her system when tested on 17 July at the Spanish mountain bike championship, the Federation announced.

She is the second Spaniard in two days to have been forced out of the Games after testing positive for EPO.

Canoeist Jovino Gonzalez was dropped on Monday for failing a random dope test.

A Spanish Cycling Federation statement said: "After notifying the affected party, who waived the right to a 'B' test, the Federation informed the Spanish Olympic Committee that the rider would no longer be participating at Athens.

"We will now begin proceedings to deal with the case."