Astana’s internal anti-doping program has led to the dismissal of Vladimir Gusev by team general manager Johan Bruyneel, according to Agence France Presse.

Gusev’s doping checks showed “abnormal values,” and tho the team stated this is not indicative of banned substances, it was enough for the team to fire him immediately.

The team’s statement appears in its entirety at dailypeloton.com.

Here’s the AFP’s account …

Astana sacks Gusev over ‘abnormal values’ found during internal checks
By Agence France Presse
Posted Jul. 25, 2008

Astana has sacked Russian rider Vladimir Gusev for reportedly showing “abnormal values” during the team’s internal doping checks.

“Vladimir Gusev has been officially informed that he is no longer part of the team Astana,” said general manager Johan Bruyneel in a news release.

The three-time Russian time-trial champion showed “abnormal values” during an internal doping check, according to the release.

Though the results “do not indicate the use of banned substances,” the release continued, “the team has therefore applied the contractual terms based on these physiological and biological abnormalities,” dismissing Gusev “with immediate effect.”

Astana, the team of 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, was not invited to this year’s Tour because race organizers feared a repetition of previous doping scandals.