Via Cyclingnews.com :

Tour of Elk Grove officials name new winner following O'Neill positive

Tour of Elk Grove officials named Mike Friedman (Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle) as the new winner of the 2007 edition of the three-stage race in place of Nathan O'Neill, who tested positive for and later admitted use of the appetite suppressant Phentermine at the event.

The Tour of Elk Grove was held August 11-12. Organizers expressed their disappointment publicly in a written statement Wednesday after hearing of O'Neill's positive. His Health Net Pro Cycling Team suspended him after his B sampled confirmed the initial positive test.

"We're obviously disappointed but we will continue to be aggressive about testing and holding our riders to the highest possible standards," said Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson, who also serves as Director of Tour of Elk Grove. O'Neill has returned his US$33,500 prize money (which will be redistributed to other 2007 top winners). He will also be banned for life from racing in the event.

Now here's the funny thing about this positive test, besides the face that O'Neill was on phen-phen (OI! These burritos sure are filling!!)- this prize $$ was already split among his teammates, support crew, etc; or was thrown into an account and split up later along the entire team. That's a lot of dough! But I'm sure his teammates are supporting him as best they know how, rent payments not withstanding, though I don't think they'll be asking him out to the pub anytime soon.

By the way, did anyone really think he ever raced clean before?