Tour de France general director Christian Prudhomme has praised the decision by Frank Shleck's team RadioShack-Nissan to withdraw the rider after his failed drugs test.
Shleck was withdrawn yesterday after testing positive for a banned diuretic and the cyclist has now requested his 'B' sample be tested.
Prudhomme believes that the team have made the correct decision to withdraw Shleck, despite not being forced to do so under the competition's rules.
"According to the rules of the UCI Frank Schleck could have started the race today. However, in agreement with his team, it was decided to take him out of the race," Super Sport quotes Prudhomme as saying.
"It was the right decision, the only possible decision."
Shleck was 12th overall at the time of his withdrawal.