Astana still 'very much under scrutiny', says UCI president Brian Cookson
Astana could still lose its WorldTour licence before start of 2015 season depending on Padua anti-doping investigation evidence
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Team Astana cleared one hurdle when it received its WorldTour licence for 2015, but cycling's president, Brian Cookson warned that the team could lose it before the season begins in earnest based on the Padua investigation.
"They are very much under probation and scrutiny, and they won't be given another chance," UCI president Cookson told Cycling Weekly.
"We want to see what in the Padua files. We are all concerned when we read these revelations in the newspapers, but we can't take that as evidence, we have to see the files."
Last night, the UCI renewed Astana's licence to race in the first division for 2015. It had asked its licence commission to review the Kazakh team's status after five recent doping cases.
Maxim Iglinskiy, who helped Vincenzo Nibali win the Tour de France in July, tested positive for EPO. His younger brother Valentin also failed an EPO test. Three riders from the team's continental third division team, also called Astana, failed steroid anti-doping tests.
"It's still a very troublesome time. It's a great frustration," Cookson continued. "There are still people who are not taking seriously the need to bring about a new era of protecting clean athletes."
Alexandre Vinokourov manages the team. Besides winning the London Olympic road race, he is known for starting Astana in 2006 in the wake of the Operación Puerto doping scandal and failing a blood doping test at the 2007 Tour de France.
Based on documents from a criminal inquiry closed last week in Padua, the La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reported that the 41-year-old Kazakh worked with banned doctor Michele Ferrari both as a cyclist and as a manager. The sports daily also said that Vinokourov asked for 10 to 12 of his riders to be followed by Ferrari for 2011.
La Gazzetta reported that 17 current and former Astana cyclists, out of 38 total, worked with Ferrari in 2010 and 2011. The riders include Roman Kreuziger, now with Tinkoff-Saxo and Michele Scarponi.
The team and Ferrari deny the report, part of which is now in the hands of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). The CONI already banned Scarponi, Giovanni Visconti and Filippo Pozzato based on the Padua inquiry.
Cookson said that if the new reports are true, the UCI could stop the team in turquoise from racing.
"This is the beginning of the process and not the end of the process. The commission didn't take into account of the recent revelations from Italy. The UCI has asked the CONI for that file, over 500 pages. We want to see what's in it,” explained Cookson
"Subjective to what the licence commission might decide, a minimum sanction could be that the team could be reduced to the Pro Continental level and be dependent on wildcards for the WorldTour races. A maximum sanction could be that the team's licence would be removed all together."
Thank you for reading 10 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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
MADE Bike Show sells out registration in record time
A new handmade bike show is coming to Portland, Oregon this fall with 145 builders and brands registered to show off their craft
By Clara Beard • Published
-
Skip the gatorade, nonalcoholic beer may be as good as, or even better than, sports drinks
Dry January may be over but you may want to keep stocking those nonalcoholic beers — for fitness sake.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
CW Live: Olympic champion joins Women's WorldTour; Tom Pidcock tips Van Aert for Cyclo-cross Worlds; Arkéa-Samsic boss 'very interested' in Julian Alaphilippe; Deadline for 2024 Olympics tickets; LEJOG record holder back cycling after hit-and-run
A round-up of all the latest cycling news
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mark Cavendish signs for Astana-Qazaqstan and will remain on the WorldTour for 2023
The transfer saga is over, Mark Cavendish has officially found a team, and will chase the Tour de France stage win record
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Brian Cookson says British Cycling has been ‘damaged’ by outsiders with ‘no real knowledge’ of cycling
Former president of UK cycling governing body says current leadership has ‘no empathy’ with people who ‘make cycling happen’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
UCI revises points system to give more weighting to Grand Tours and Monuments
Cycling's governing body publishes major changes to its points scale for the coming three-year cycle
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Is Mark Cavendish heading to Astana?
The Manx Missile has been heavily linked to Astana since the departure of their GC rider Miguel Ángel López
By Adam Hart • Published
-
Astana Qazaqstan drops Miguel Ángel López over 'probable' doping case links
The 28-year-old had extended his contract last month
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
UCI boosts anti-doping funding by 35%
Financial backing of anti-doping programme to rise by 35 percent over the next two years
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Spanish police crack down on doping ring, former Kelme coach questioned
Miguel Ángel López denies any involvement in statement
By Adam Becket • Last updated