PARIS, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Cycling's most prestigious race, Tour de France, has suffered a big blow Thursday when this year's winner Floyd Landis was tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

    Landis's Phonak team announced that the rider of the United States was tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone with a sample taken during the race.

    "The Phonak Cycling Team was notified yesterday by (world cycling body) the UCI of an unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France," said Phonak in a team statement.

    But the rider himself denied doping immediately and said he would fight to clear his name.

    "I don't know what the explanation for it is, whether it was a mistake or whether it's an occurance from some other circumstances that go on in the race or something I did," said Landis via a teleconference call.

    The American said that the night before the 17th stage he and his Phonak team mates had been depressed and had drunk beer and whiskey in their hotel room.

    If his B sample confirms the result, the 30-year-old Landis will become the first Tour winner being stripped of his victory for doping.

    Spain's Oscar Pereiro, who finished second in the overall standings, would be declared the winner if Landis is disqualified.Enditem