Disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis's Phonak team is to be disbanded in the wake of his positive doping test for testosterone, the outgoing sponsors said.

Phonak owner Andy Rihs said the team had tried to find other sponsors without success and would now be seeking alternative rides for Landis's team-mates. Phonak had already said before this year's Tour that it planned to withdraw from the sport.

Landis was sacked by the Swiss-based team after the second B sample tested positive for the male sex hormone earlier this month.

"We will never enter a team in the Tour de France again," team manager John Lelangue told a news conference.

He declined to speculate on the future of Landis, who has denied any wrongdoing and plans to fight a two-year ban from cycling's governing body, the International Cycling Union.

Should the American rider fail with his appeal, which could take up to six months, Landis will also be stripped of his Tour de France title.

"What he (Landis) does is up to him," Lelangue said.

Rihs added that the hearing aid company would concentrate on building up a cycling team they already sponsor in the US.

Landis gave his positive test after the 17th stage of last month's Tour, which showed abnormal testosterone readings. The naturally-occurring hormone boosts strength and aids recovery from strenuous exercise.

Landis had produced one of the greatest solo rides in Tour history to win the stage, 24 hours after his challenge looked over when he cracked on the final climb of the 16th stage and fell more than eight minutes behind the leader.