Artur Fedosseyev of the Astana Continental team has tested positive for the use of anabolic androgenic steroids, the UCI confirmed on Wednesday, and becomes the fifth Astana rider to test positive in 2014.
The Kazakhstani rider's positive sample was collected at the Tour de l’Ain in August, and is just another name to add to a list of doping scandals Astana has been involved with this year.
Brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy returned positive tests for EPO in August, and are the only two riders from the team's WorldTour squad to fail an anti-doping control this year.
The Astana Continental team has now seen three riders fail anti-doping tests, with Ilya Davidenok and Victor Okishev both shown to have used anabolic androgenic steroids from samples taken in August and May respectively.
The UCI announced in October that they would be referring Astana to the licence commission, as they raised concerns about whether the team should be allowed to continue with a WorldTour licence.
The sport's governing body also said that Astana is in a "very serious situation" over the flurry of doping scandals coming from its teams, while the team's management have said they are investigating "disappointing" doping within the team .
Fedosseyev has now been provisionally suspended by the UCI, and will have a chance to ask for his B sample to be tested though it is uncomfirmed about whether he has done so yet.
More Astana stories
Vincenzo Nibali foresees 'no problems' over Astana's WorldTour licence
2014 Tour de France winner expects his Astana team to be granted a WorldTour licence in 2015, despite four riders
Another Astana rider fails doping test
Continental Team Astana rider Victor Okishev fails test for anabolic androgenic steroids in May
Astana's WorldTour licence in jeopardy after another failed drug test
Astana promises to investigate 'disappointing' doping within team
Astana says it wants to reaffirm its 'absolute zero-tolerance policy towards all incidents of doping and unethical activity' in wake
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
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