PARIS • American cyclist Tom Danielson has been suspended by his Cannondale-Garmin team after testing positive for synthetic testosterone, but he denies taking a banned substance.

The team said on Monday that Danielson, a former team-mate of Lance Armstrong, had returned an "adverse analytical A sample using carbon isotope testing". He was suspended immediately.

Danielson, who is awaiting the results of his B sample and could face a life ban if that concurs with the A sample, said on Twitter that he had not used performance-enhancing drugs.

He said: "While I was eating dinner with my team the night before the Tour of Utah I received a call from Usada notifying me that an out of competition test I gave July 9 has tested positive for, from what I understand, synthetic testosterone. I have not taken this or any other banned substance."

Danielson has already served a six-month ban in 2012, after admitting to blood doping.

The 37-year-old said he would skip the Tour of Utah, which starts on Monday. He won the race the last two years.

"I feel incredibly hurt, frustrated, and angry by this. I don't understand how or why this happened and still can't even accept this is true," said Danielson, who placed eighth in the 2011 Tour de France.

Cannondale-Garmin's parent company, Slipstream Sports, said in a statement: "He awaits the results his B sample. Slipstream respects and will adhere to the process of the anti-doping authorities and will not comment further."

REUTERS