BERLIN, July 21: Suspended T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz, found to have had abnormal levels of the hormone testosterone in his blood, has requested that his B sample be tested, it was announced on Saturday.

The result is not expected to be known until Monday at the earliest.

A test on Sinkewitz's first sample, given on June 8, had shown increased levels of testosterone and capped a bad few days for the 26-year-old, who pulled out of the Tour de France through serious injury three days before.

If the B sample is also found to be positive, Sinkewitz faces a two-year suspension.

The German has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have pointed out faults in procedure.

They say that contrary to regulations, other people were present or passed through the room in which the tests were taken.

“We're concentrating on the facts which say that we have a positive doping case in our team. Possible errors in the procedure do not concern us right now.

We will only react to new facts,” explained Deutsche Telekom spokesman Christian Frommert on the T-Mobile website.

If the second sample confirmed the positive result, the German Cycling Federation (BDR) said it would take the case to the federal court for sport and T-Mobile, who have suspended the rider pending the B-sample result, have said they would cancel his contract.

News of Sinkewitz's failed first test last Wednesday created a storm in Germany where broadcasters ARD and ZDF both cancelled their coverage of this year's tour and Adidas are threatening to end their partnership with T-Mobile.—AFP