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Hamburg - German cyclists Andreas Kloeden and Matthias Kessler have been implicated in illegal doping practices following an independent investigation, news magazine Der Spiegel reports. The former T-Mobile cyclists are suspected of having received banned blood transfusions by doctors at Freiburg University Clinic, the magazine reports in its edition to appear Monday, quoting the results of an investigation by an expert commission.

Hamburg  - Olympic cycling champion Tyler Hamilton of the United States retired on Friday after admitting to have failed another doping test.

Hamilton, 38, told the cyclingnews website that he tested positive for the steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) at an out-of-competition test in February.

Hamilton said he was aware that an over-the-counter medication he used to treat depression contained the banned substance. He said he used the medication after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.

Berlin  - Lance Armstrong will definitely compete in this year's Giro d'Italia despite breaking his right collarbone less than a month ago, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday.

The seven-time Tour de France winner has reportedly confirmed his participation in the Giro, which starts on May 9 in Venice, to race organizers.

However, the 37-year-old American rider won't be fully fit due to the injury sustained on March 23 when he crashed on stage one of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon in Spain.

Paris  - Lance Armstrong could face punishment by the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) over his behaviour during a doping test last month in southern France.

Samples taken from the seven-time Tour de France winner on March 17 in Beaulieu-sur-mer returned negative but it is alleged that he may have violated the AFLD's rules regarding observation due to his lack of cooperation with the tester.

The 37-year-old Astana rider made the AFLD accredited doctor wait 20 minutes before allowing him take a blood, hair and urine sample.

Vienna - Austria's anti-doping agency NADA has started procedures against two Austrian cyclists, one of whom is being linked to the country's disgraced cross-country skiing coach Walter Mayer.

The names of Christoph Kerschbaum, 32, and Ferdinand Bruckner, 37, appeared on a list of banned or suspected cyclists published on the website of the Austrian Cycling Federation on Wednesday.