MONTPELLIER (France), July 19: Germany's Jens Voigt was among the riders who blasted a decision by two major television channels to stop live coverage of the Tour de France because of news of a positive doping test.

ARD and ZDF, two of Germany's leading channels, stopped their live broadcast of the 10th stage from Tallard to Marseille after hearing that T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz had tested positive for testosterone.

According to the German cycling federation (BDR), Sinkewitz had abnormal levels of the male sex hormone testosterone from a test taken on June 8.

ARD and ZDF said they would not be resuming their coverage of the Tour “until clarification of the Patrik Sinkewitz case”.

“It's a warning to cycling and to every other sport,” explained ZDF chief producer Nikolaus Brender.”

“A lot of sports don't look for anything. We've decided to take another attitude, we're fighting against doping - and we're being sanctioned because cheats are being found!” Voigt said, adding the television channels were acting like dictators from his former home in the east of the country.—AFP