Simon Yates has been given a four-month ban after failing an in-competition drugs test. The sanction applies from March and Yates, 23, will miss the Tour de France but hopes to return later in July.

The Orica GreenEDGE rider tested positive for Terbutaline earlier in the season. 

The UCI has announced that the Australian has been sanctioned with "a period of ineligibility of four months for a non-intentional anti-doping rule violation committed on 12 March 2016 (i.e. Presence and Use of the specified prohibited substance Terbutaline)".

"As per the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), the start of the sanction will run from the date of the sample collection until 11 July 2016. The case has been resolved via an acceptance of consequences as provided for by the WADC and the ADR. The UCI will not comment any further."

He will not  be at the start of the Tour de France as his ban runs through July 11.

Orica GreenEDGE has published a statement and announced that he will make his comeback at the Tour de Pologne

Orica-GreenEDGE statement

"After a four-month break due to a pending decision around his adverse analytical finding in March this year, ORICA-GreenEDGE’s Simon Yates can now finally resume racing in July at the Tour of Poland.

“Simon has been given a four-month sanction by the UCI given the administrative error in not having a required TUE for his asthma inhaler at Paris-Nice," said general manager Shayne Bannan. 

"The team has taken full responsibility for this all along and we look forward to seeing Simon back racing. 

"It has been an unfortunate break due to circumstances that Simon cannot be blamed, but above all, we are happy that this has now come to a conclusion. 

"Simon has been training well and we welcome him back on the roster for a strong second part of the season."