British rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has been hit with a two-year doping suspension, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has revealed.
The Sky rider was caught out by his biological passport from 2012, before he joined the British World Tour squad.
The 29-year-old has been banned until December 31, 2015 and stripped of his 2012 Tour of Britain victory.
Sky released a statement saying the rider has been fired.
“Jonathan’s contract has been terminated today,” said Team Principal Dave Brailsford.
“Whilst there have been no doubts about his time with us, his doping violation — from readings taken before he joined this team — means there’s no place for him in Team Sky.
“We’ve a well-known stance on anti-doping and our action is the inevitable outcome of a violation.
“This is a team that trains, races and wins clean.”
Tiernan-Locke was recruited by Sky after a fine 2012 season for Endura Racing in the third division of professional cycling.
However, at Endura, Tiernan-Locke wasn’t subject to biological passport testing.
He was suspended by Sky before the 2013 World Championships last September due to irregularities in his passport readings.