DPA ©
Astana cycling team
Vincenzo Nibali is to keep its top tier World Tour licence subject to
operating under a series of special measures, the ruling body
UCI said Thursday.
Astana, backed by the Kazakhstan government, were in danger of losing
the right to compete at the highest level after the UCI asked its
licensing panel in February to revoke the team's license due to
several doping cases highlighted by an audit carried out by the
Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL).
That would have put Nibali's participation in the 2015 Tour de France
under doubt, though the team could have applied for a wildcard.
But instead the panel requested ISSUL to "propose special measures
which the team will be obliged to put in place at specific times over
the rest of this season," the UCI said in a statement.
The UCI warned the "licence is subject to strict monitoring of the
conditions laid down.
"This monitoring will be carried out on the basis of reports
transmitted by ISSUL to the licence commission.
"The licence commission shall be able to re-open the proceedings if
Astana Pro Team fails to respect one or several of the conditions
imposed, or if new elements arise."
Astana issued a statement saying it was "grateful to the license
commission for the opportunity to present the team's commitment to
observing the UCI's ethical criteria.
"Astana Pro Team is committed to respecting all measures recommended
by ISSUL, and to collaborate in the implementation of further
measures that enhance our procedures above and beyond the UCI's
minimum requirements.
"Our focus now returns to racing."
The ISSUL audit revealed that Astana has insufficient anti-doping
structures and five riders of the team failed drug tests last year.
Astana were also alleged to have been in contact with Italian doctor
Michele Ferrari who was banned from the sport over his involvement
with the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.
Nibali was not implicated of any wrong-doing in the ISSUL audit.
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