Astana Licence to be withdrawn?

[Benotti69]

My guess is (should this be the outcome) that the Padua investigation is too incriminating -even for a bloke like Vino..

I also think that Astana group due to larger interests are ready to see him of to martyrdom and that his image in Kazakhstan will be of such characther hence not suffering much..

I am of the opinion that this is the "easiest" way out for all parties involved... UCI needs team Astana as much as they need the UCI.

This will make most everyone happy and "on surface" is very good PR for the anti-doping mantra Cookson has sworn to..

I cannot see Vino's image suffering in Kazakhstan as I very much doubt they have a free press.

Also Astana can probably throw half the sport under the bus if they so choose.

 

[Ventoux Boar]

Also Astana can probably throw half the sport under the bus if they so choose.

This prospect, if it's more than wild conspiracy theory, likely gives the CIRC process a fair bit of leverage. If there's a reservoir of knowledge that 'everybody' knows, it must increase the risk of giving false testimony.

 

[mrhender]

snip

Also Astana can probably throw half the sport under the bus if they so choose.

But no-one has an interest in that thus this is the best solution....

UCI can't lose face now, someone has to go and Vino is the logical choice..

 

[mrhender]

Imo it stinks. Either they have enough on Vino to ban him or they don't. Using Astana's license to pressure him out is something Pat would've done (that is if they are going to have their license on the condition that Vino leaves). It certainly doesn't raise my opinion of Cookson.

I partly agree beacuse I fear that this will only make cycling 0.002% cleaner but will probably be sold for something totally different...

As for the ban it might be complicated.. The audit may not be enough for a ban and the Padua stuff may be out of jurisdiction, too old, and/or responsability not easy to pin on his person in legal terms...

 

[Netserk]

I partly agree beacuse I fear that this will only make cycling 0.002% cleaner but will probably be sold for something totally different...

As for the ban it might be complicated.. The audit may not be enough for a ban and the Padua stuff may be out of jurisdiction, too old, and/or responsability not easy to pin on his person in legal terms...

Well, dopers have rights too. If they can't ban him, then he should be free to be a part of the sport on equal terms as others.

 

[mrhender]

Well, dopers have rights too. If they can't ban him, then he should be free to be a part of the sport on equal terms as others.

We can agree that this course of action is probably politiacally motivated.

But it can go both ways. If you want to do something about the problem you have to at some point take the gloves off and get your hands dirty..
It can be an attempt to actually do something and Vino is one of the most tainted so why not start there?

I don't know if this is the first step towards sincere anti-doping meassures or if it is just symbolic "gestures" (same as much policy is) that in effect will amount to no change at all...

If the latter is the case then the joke's on everyone...

 

[Benotti69]

But no-one has an interest in that thus this is the best solution....

UCI can't lose face now, someone has to go and Vino is the logical choice..

Absolutely no one wants to rock the boat. Cookson caught because others are doing the anti doping work he should be doing and he cannot ignore it. So he is trying to find the most equitable solution, which shows him being hardline on those 'caught' doping while not punishing them too severely. Smoke and mirrors. Vino will go but where, not out of the sport, garden leave...

 

[TheGame]

Called it!!

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/vinokourov_to_leave_astana/

Called what? this is just a suggestion by Gazzetta, nothing more.

 

[markene2]

Called what? this is just a suggestion by Gazzetta, nothing more.

That all is politics, the whole thing is just a play to get Vino out of the sport. Yes for now it's only a suggestion from Gazzetta, but it will happen. No doubt in my mind..

 

[Night Rider]

March 20 deadline for Astana's defence if (when) that fails and based on the appeal time for Katusha. There out of MSR, Catalunya, Rest of the Cobbled classics, Romandie, Ardennes and the Giro.

Astana will get a more urgent hearing than Katusha did. Katusha from memory were given an interim Pro Conti licence to allow them to keep racing. If Astana is effectively prevented from entering or competing in races then the appeal will be expedited.

 

[simo1733]

Astana will get a more urgent hearing than Katusha did. Katusha from memory were given an interim Pro Conti licence to allow them to keep racing. If Astana is effectively prevented from entering or competing in races then the appeal will be expedited.

BBC reported "Understandably, Astana are in no mood to facilitate their demotion to the sport's second tier, so a degree of foot-dragging can be expected; and if the commission rules against them, an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is guaranteed."
Demotion suggest's that they could still compete.

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/inrng/status/582428612579737601

@inrng

Astana "loses World Tour licence" http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wiele ... ur___.html … (Dutch) via @raykerckhoffs

 

[sniper]

Re:

https://twitter.com/inrng/status/582428612579737601

@inrng

Astana "loses World Tour licence" http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wiele ... ur___.html … (Dutch) via @raykerckhoffs

apparently due to "providing [the UCI with] wrong information".

 

[LaFlorecita]

Will have to see it to believe it. Telegraaf has been wrong before.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

so Astana and Riis "booted" out. Sounds like a productive week.

 

[msjett]

I would like to know what happens to Nibali if Astana are booted to pro-conti or conti level - the UCI are potentially taking out a team that can afford to employ riders long term....who would get Astana's licence?

I agree they have had too many positives, and that action needs to be taken but is taking their licence away the answer?

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

I would like to know what happens to Nibali if Astana are booted to pro-conti or conti level - the UCI are potentially taking out a team that can afford to employ riders long term....who would get Astana's licence?

I agree they have had too many positives, and that action needs to be taken but is taking their licence away the answer?

Yes. It's about time a team suffered some real consequences. Hopefully it's the start of things to come.

Do I feel sorry for people who could possibly lose their jobs? Yes, of course I do, very sorry for them and I hope they find employment quickly or someone else comes in a picks up the team if the Astana backing goes.

 

[sniper]

Re:

I would like to know what happens to Nibali if Astana are booted to pro-conti or conti level - the UCI are potentially taking out a team that can afford to employ riders long term....who would get Astana's licence?

I agree they have had too many positives, and that action needs to be taken but is taking their licence away the answer?

it would have been the right decision in a parallel world where Cookson had shown to be independent from Sky and British cycling.
now it just leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.
Astana's stream of positives last year compared to Cookson's repeated defense of Team Sky (both publicly and behind the scenes)...
Jan Ulrich can do the math on that one.

 

[mrhender]

Not sure this is the best decision if true..

This way UCI will only leave it to race organizers to decide wether or not Astana shall ride...
So basically they are going to take wild-cards from other teams struggling to get a foot in..

And if race-organizers refuse to give wild-card they will be trashed by fans etc...

In my opinion they should get Pro-Tour license (maybe on restructure of team basis) or nothing at all....

 

[Netserk]

If they end up with a Continental license, they can't be invited to any WT races.

 

[mrhender]

Re:

If they end up with a Continental license, they can't be invited to any WT races.

Why is that?

Have I missed something in maybe...?

 

[Netserk]

Pro-Continental teams can be invited, Continental teams can't. Has always been that way.

I think it will either be a Pro-Tour license or a Continental license.

 

[mrhender]

Re:

Pro-Continental teams can be invited, Continental teams can't. Has always been that way.

I think it will either be a Pro-Tour license or a Continental license.

Ahh of course...

Note to self: read article properly before commenting

 

[msjett]

I think booting them to continental level would be worse than actually kicking them out altogether....but they would be the winningest team on the continental level

 

[mrhender]

Re:

I think booting them to continental level would be worse than actually kicking them out altogether....but they would be the winningest team on the continental level

Maybe so..

You guys are doping too much.. Go beat the sh!it of the continental teams

I wonder if the leak was intentional by the UCI.. To put pressure on the team to offer significant changes at the hearing? (vino out?)