The integrity of the Astana team has been brought into question again after the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced on Wednesday that Continental Team Astana rider Victor Okishev failed a test for anabolic androgenic steroids in May.
According to the UCI, Okishev failed the test from a sample taken during the Asian Cycling Championships on May 29. The 20 year old from Kazakhstan has been provisionally suspended from competition as a result of the positive, and has the right to request that his B sample be tested.
It's the latest doping test failure for Astana, which has already seen a string of riders suspended for failed tests in 2014. In October, the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said it was reviewing Astana's WorldTour licence in light of the failed tests and said the squad was in a 'serious situation'.
Brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy, who rode for Astana's WorldTour squad, both failed tests for banned blood booster EPO. Valentin at the Eneco Tour on August 11 and Maxim on August 1. Maxim was part of Astana's Tour de France line-up that saw the team's Vincenzo Nibali take the overall victory.
In October, the UCI announced that llya Davidenok, of Continental Team Astana, had failed a test for anabolic androgenic steroids at the Tour de l’Avenir in August.
Current Astana Team manager Alexandre Vinokourov was suspended during his riding career for failing a test for blood transfusion during the 2007 Tour de France, and is currently under investigation for alleged race fixing and bribery.
Though Astana has said it wants to reaffirm its 'absolute zero-tolerance policy towards all incidents of doping and unethical activity', the positive test results keep coming. The team is a voluntary member of the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC), which has stricter anti-doping rules than the UCI.
More on Astana
Astana's Lieuwe Westra caught speeding at 118mph
Credit: Andy Jones
Vincenzo Nibali in "rage" after Astana doping revelations
Astana's WorldTour licence in jeopardy after another failed drug test
A brief history of Astana scandals
A quick guide to an uneasy ride in the pro peloton
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
US Pro Nationals Preview: all you need to know about the battles for the Stars and Stripes in Tennessee
The best US cycling talent converge in Knoxville, Tennessee June 23-26, for the US Pro National TT, Criterium and Road Race Championships
-
Lucinda Brand takes overall victory at Tour de Suisse Women with dramatic stage four win
Brand won the overall via a long-range attack on the final stage, whilst previous leader Kristen Faulkner crashed in the closing metres
-
Public prosecutor's office opens judicial investigation into Astana Qazaqstan's license holder
Abacanto SA has held the WorldTour team's license since 2010, but is being charged with violations of the Luxembourg criminal code
-
Vincenzo Nibali will not ride Paris-Roubaix in order to focus on the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France
Italian says it would have been "really cool" to ride all five monuments but it wasn't "possible"
-
Astana release new rap video starring Vincenzo Nibali and Alexander Vinokourov
Kazakh team have history of strange social media posts, but this one is quite something
-
Which WorldTour team has the best kit for 2022? We take a look through the wardrobe
Now almost all the kits are out, here are our measured ratings of racing kit ahead of the 2022 season
-
Vincenzo Nibali to tackle Paris-Roubaix for first time in 2022
Italian is down to race all five monuments in 2022 for Astana-Qazaqstan
-
'I have been portrayed as a person that I am not': Gianni Moscon looks to a fresh start with Astana in 2022
The Italian can see himself competing in all five of the Monument Classics in the future
-
Trial begins into French doctor and two others accused of attempting to dope cyclists
Bernand Sainz has been involved in cycling circles for the best part of six decades
-
Johan Bruyneel: 'Lance Armstrong was the perfect target to be sacrificed' to clean up cycling
The former rider and team boss says in his era the choice was 'either you adapt and you dope yourself, or you disappear'
