Astana withdraws from Tour of Beijing after Maxim Iglinskiy positive

Under Movement for Credible Cycling rules, Astana have withdrawn from competition after positive tests for Valentin and Maxim Iglinskiy

Maxim Iglinskiy was one of five Astana riders to fail drugs tests in late 2014 (Watson)
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Astana has withdrawn from the 2014 Tour of Beijing after the Kazakh team's Maxim Iglinskiy failed an anti-doping test taken in August for banned blood booster EPO.

Iglinskiy has elected not to request that his B sample be analysed - effectively admitting his guilt - so the team has voluntarily withdrawn itself from the final WorldTour event of the season.

Maxim Iglinskiy's positive for EPO is in addition to a test failure for the same substance by his brother and former Astana team-mate, Valentin.

Valentin admitted using the drug and was sacked from the team.

Under the rules of the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC), of which Astana is a member, a team must withdraw itself from competition for eight days from the start of the next WorldTour race if it has two positive doping cases in a 12-month period.

In a brief statement issued on Monday, the squad said: "Astana Pro Team has moved to act upon the decision by rider Maxim Iglinskiy not to request a counter-analysis of his positive control from 1 August 2014."

"In doing so the team conforms to rules set by the MPCC, which Astana Pro Team joined in 2013, and has therefore decided to withdraw from the final WorldTour event – the Tour of Beijing."

The Tour of Beijing runs from October 10 to 14.

Maxim Iglinskiy provisionally suspended for EPO test failure

Second EPO positive for Astana as Maxim Iglinskiy joins brother Valentin in failing a test for blood booster

Valentin Iglinskiy sacked by Astana after failing EPO test

Kazakh rider Valentin Iglinskiy failed test for EPO at Eneco Tour and admits to using the banned blood booster

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.