FRANK SCHLECK has been handed a one-year ban by the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency (ALAD) after testing positive for a banned substance during last year’s Tour de France, ruling him out of the event this year.

ALAD confirmed the 32-year-old RadioShack Nissan Trek rider’s suspension last night, adding that it had been backdated to begin on July 14, 2012 following his positive test for the diuretic Xipamide following the 13th stage of last year’s Tour.

Schleck finished third in the 2011 Tour and was 12th when his participation in the 2012 race ended – five stages prematurely – on July 17.

This year’s Tour de France begins on June 29.

SNOOKER: Yorkshireman Peter Lines caused a shock by knocking out four-time world champion John Higgins at the German Masters yesterday.

Lines, from Leeds, is ranked 58th in the world but had the measure of out-of-sorts Scot Higgins in Berlin.

In their opening-day match Lines gained a 2-0 lead but was briefly reeled in as Higgins levelled up. However the 43-year-old took three of the next four frames to clinch a 5-3 victory.

Masters runner-up Neil Robertson toppled Daniel Wells 5-0, Stephen Maguire won his all-Scottish tussle with Alan McManus by a 5-3 margin, and Widnes potter Andrew Higginson had a fine 5-1 victory against 10thranked Stuart Bingham.

FOOTBALL: Tottenham have been fined 10,000 euros (£8,600) by UEFA over crowd disturbances during their Europa League match against Lazio in Rome on November 22.

European football’s governing body announced the sanction last night.

Lazio were fined 90,000 euros (£77,000) for the behaviour of their fans in the same match.

The Italian club were fined for the “racist behaviour of their fans, throwing of missiles and/or fireworks, incidents of a non-sporting nature, late handling of their team sheet and late arrival at the stadium”, UEFA said.

FOOTBALL: Everton’s bid to sign FC Twente midfielder Leroy Fer has fallen through after the two clubs failed to agree on renegotiated terms.

An issue with a knee problem arose during his medical, resulting in the Toffees returning to the Dutch side with different terms.