Astana's fate not sealed yet, decision expected in two weeks

PARIS (Reuters) - Astana are expecting to learn whether they retain their World Tour (elite) licence in about two weeks, a source within the Kakazh-funded team told Reuters on Monday.

Astana's fate not sealed yet, decision expected in two weeks

(Reuters)





Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that the International Cycling Union's Licence Commission was to strip Astana, the team of Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali, of their licence following a series of positive anti-doping tests last season.

"No hearing has yet taken place in the Astana case and therefore no decision has been made," the UCI said in a statement to Reuters.

Astana had until March 20 to submit all documents in their defence to the Commission and are planning to send a team to be heard on Thursday in Switzerland, the source said.

Members of the Kazakh federation, sports directors, riders and the head doctor will travel to the April 2 meeting.

"We've been told it would then take about 10 days, so after Paris-Roubaix," the source said.

The UCI said in February it wanted the sport's licencing commission to strip Astana of their elite status.

Kazakhstan-based Astana were only granted their World Tour licence for 2015 "under probation".

But the UCI released a statement on Feb. 27 saying it wanted the license withdrawn after finishing a review of an audit on Astana which was undertaken by the Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL).

The World Tour license guarantees its holder direct participation in the top races, including the Tour de France, the Paris-Roubaix classic and the Giro d'Italia.

Several Astana riders failed dope tests last season. The UCI agreed to grant the team a license but only on the condition that it underwent an independent audit.

If Astana are stripped of their licence, they would be able to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).





(Editing by Ed Osmond)


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world