Astana Licence to be withdrawn?

[ebandit]

but

But now the license is already given out and the season already started, it literally made Astana a victim in the eyes of the court.

was not licence issued with clause..........continuance pending review of
incoming report?

Mark L

 

[rhubroma]

I suspect the UCI aims to exchange leadership in the team rather than having it fold... There has been talks of Katusha folding after this year and I doubt anyone considers Tinkoff anything but a fragile sponsorship due to his lose cannon persona...

Therefore I think they have every interest in finding a solution to keep the team going in some way or form.

Bottom line UCI may have been forced to act, but then again one could argue that they learned from the katusha scandal and has been very thorough as well as strategically undertaking a step by step diminishment of the Astana managements legitimacy..

Right now it all seems as one big mess, but I am open to the possibility that they are working behind the scenes to secure a deal in which the team can continue and that the teams future will be ensured without Vinokourov.

With the upcoming CIRC report i susect it will put even more pressure on Vino and force the hand of the sponsor to chose between him and a Pro-tour team..

What then happens I dunno.. Vino in many ways personifies Astana and the sponsor might pull the plug as a result of this, but then again the interests and stakes might be bigger than Vino..

As for being PR then every anti-doping effort done by UCI can fairly be seen as such, however it can be that they are actually attempting to do some good as well, and both can go hand in hand regardless of the obvious fact that every action they take should be considered in the context of their historical dubiousness.
The UCI has a long wat to go to earn trust, and in this case we should follow closely how/if this is a first step to more rigourus rules in terms of obtaining license for all teams.. If they fail to build upon this fragile momentum as well as shattering the WT then Cookson is playing a dangerous game...

Well, if they make Vino step down, then I suspect we will probably have cycling's version of the Putin scenario when he was no longer Russia's PM.

 

[Irondan]

If UCI withdraw's Astana's Pro Tour licence, does this mean they are also prohibited from pro continental?
Has a team ever been banned from the sport in mid season,either in cycling or any other pro sport?

Does anyone know the answer to this question?

 

[Escarabajo]

Does anyone know the answer to this question?

Somebody already answered in this thread. Although it was also speculation the answer is No. They cannot be a continental pro-team either with the same management because in essence they are at legal fault either way.

That is the reason why the alternatives were always either a WT team with new management or simply the main riders finding new teams. This is in the case they lose in the CAS arbitration.

Not sure if this is going to happen so don't kill the messenger.

 

[mrhender]

Well, if they make Vino step down, then I suspect we will probably have cycling's version of the Putin scenario when he was no longer Russia's PM.

And Kaschekin can play the role of Medvedev

On a serious note I do think that when all these affairs are dusted and done Vino will be a factor no more.. But we will see i guess...

 

[rhubroma]

Somebody already answered in this thread. Although it was also speculation the answer is No. They cannot be a continental pro-team either with the same management because in essence they are at legal fault either way.

That is the reason why the alternatives were always either a WT team with new management or simply the main riders finding new teams. This is in the case they lose in the CAS arbitration.

Not sure if this is going to happen so don't kill the messenger.

It apparently seems that Astana would have a decent shot at winning the CAS arbitration if it goes there.

 

[Netserk]

Personally, I'd prefer that if they take the license away from Astana that they do so by the end of this year. That should allow riders good time to find another team for next season.

 

[rhubroma]

And Kaschekin can play the role of Medvedev

On a serious note I do think that when all these affairs are dusted and done Vino will be a factor no more.. But we will see i guess...

I'm wondering how the UCI can deal with not having that oligarchy's sponsorship? If Vino goes, then the oligarchy may go with him. But then again, perhaps as far as national propaganda goes, the oligarchy needs the UCI more than Vino. Though all of this is pure conjecture.

 

[mrhender]

I'm wondering how the UCI can deal with not having that oligarchy's sponsorship? If Vino goes, then the oligarchy may go with him. But then again, perhaps as far as national propaganda goes, the oligarchy needs the UCI more than Vino. Though all of this is pure conjecture.

Which is why I think they will find a solution where Vino and maybe a few others steps down... Vino is big over there but Astana group is even bigger and with the Almaty bid for winter-olympics there are larger stakes in the game so they need a high level sporting presence on the european scene...

I am only speculating of course...

 

[rhubroma]

Which is why I think they will find a solution where Vino and maybe a few others steps down... Vino is big over there but Astana group is even bigger and with the Almaty bid for winter-olympics there are larger stakes in the game so they need a high level sporting presence on the european scene...

I am only speculating of course...

Interesting analysis. Well, in any case, this will be interesting to see how it all plays out, and how it plays out should reveal much about the politics of sport and the power of economics over any ethical concerns.

 

[Benotti69]

Pretty sure money will exchange hands, people will step back into the shadows for a while and everything will be ok and the sport continues to trudge through the mud as always.

 

[wrinklyvet]

Pretty sure money will exchange hands, people will step back into the shadows for a while and everything will be ok and the sport continues to trudge through the mud as always.

That's interesting. You think "money will change hands." What sort of corruption are you talking about or do you mean something else?

 

[May0maniac]

Which is why I think they will find a solution where Vino and maybe a few others steps down... Vino is big over there but Astana group is even bigger and with the Almaty bid for winter-olympics there are larger stakes in the game so they need a high level sporting presence on the european scene...

I am only speculating of course...

I think there could be a connection with the Almaty bid and Vino being forced to step down as the ambassador.

 

[mrhender]

I think there could be a connection with the Almaty bid and Vino being forced to step down as the ambassador.

Yes,

He is becoming a liability..

Right now the team is running some PR-campaign with their lawyers going through things. Meanwhile they are playing the role of being targeted hinting that other teams are no better...

But I suspect it is all for show to make them look better..

 

[Benotti69]

That's interesting. You think "money will change hands." What sort of corruption are you talking about or do you mean something else?

Vino has a known record for buying things. UCI has a known reputation for accepting gifts from teams.

 

[mrhender]

Head of Kazakh cycling federation and Astana chairman Darkan Kaletayev talks.

Apparently they are looking for an additional sponsor for the team.


Some excerpts from a long article below.. Not the best translation from google..

http://www.megapolis.kz/art/Byudzhe...avlyayut_okolo_90100_millionov_dollarov_v_god

- In late January, you made two powerful statement: that the "Samruk-Kazyna" cost savings to charity, and that you must enter the Kazakhstani football ceiling wages. But then cycling team "Astana" holds pompous and costly presentation in Dubai. How strange it all looks, is not it?

No. Let me explain at once, we were guided by deciding to make a presentation of "Astana" in Dubai. First of all, this procedure is carried clubs Pro Tour every year in different parts of the world. We chose this city for several reasons. Firstly, because in the UAE, Qatar and Oman had to go through three cycling - immediately after the presentation. And it was convenient in terms of movement. Second, the "Astana" need another sponsor. And we are negotiating with certain companies of the region.

- Have you recently become president of Cycling Federation. You are satisfied that the last year of the word "cycling team" Astana "and" doping "have become almost synonymous?

No. I have already said that we have been discussing the possibility of closing the team, but it is limited to suspension of the continental "Astana" ...

- And the head of the "Astana" Dmitry Sedun, in which there were three doping scandal, immediately became the main sports director of "Astana".

You know, for all of these issues - including appointments, answers general manager Alexandre Vinokourov. He does its job fine, but there are questions to him. In particular, the results of the audit, which was conducted at the request of UCI (International Cycling Union. - Ed.), We will have a long trial and, in particular, within the management team.

-UCI president Brian Cookson believes that the next doping scandal will be for "Astana" last.

Well, it's not Mr. Cookson decide and Licensing Commission, our team will get a license to participate in the "World Tour" or not. Actually I know where we went on the attack against doping why so raved the Italian press pumped hysteria about "Astana".

-So tell me the same.

I will say this: did the team that unlike our can not win any of the "Grand Tour". Of them were even proposals to join us, but we refused. And then began fanning scandals.

-If you think that all the scandals invented the press, that is, output: sue. Why do you still have not done so?

We thought about it. And even seek advice from a company that leads our legal affairs in Europe. But they, having studied the materials came to the conclusion: nothing to cling to. All articles were based on the assumptions: "If they used doping, then maybe they do and then ..." This is incompetent.

And I think, would not have been doping scandals, there would not be material.

We are fighting this. Now introduce biological passports for all young cyclists. It turned out - this process is time consuming and very costly. To be honest, I'm one person explained why young racers continental "Astana" went on doping. Because for them it was the only way to express yourself and get into the main "Astana". And there high salaries, another level - another life! So they took this step.

Uncover the mystery: what is the budget of "Astana" this year?

- From 16 to 18 million euros. Depending on the task.

- And what would you say to people who say: you do not pay Nibali his millions, and in the villages hold water?

The fact that they are completely different things. I understand that the problem of water supply is - but it is the task of the state. The "Astana" other goals: promotion of capital and the country as a whole. We once calculated that if the pay per minute for mentioning the brand "Astana" on the air channel "Euronews" and "Eurosport", it would leave us about 90 million euros per year. And it comes at 16-18 million. Savings!

- I've heard this argument a billion times. But I want to ask you something else. In Europe and the United States in the event of a major doping abuse sponsors often stop cooperation with the clubs ...

(Interrupting) I know what you mean. Yes, a certain fashion, our company suffers damage because of this. But you think about it: if the "Samruk-Kazyna" will stop funding led "Astana", who will do it? Sponsors, invest in Kazakhstan is very small. And the money they give out are not that big. Look at what happened with chess? They even decided to suspend the activities of the federation because of the fact that we stopped funding. Later, however, the work resumed ...

 

[MatParker117]

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.

 

[mrhender]

http://astanaproteam.kz/en/page/news/6263-dr-joost-de-maeseneer-astana-pro-team-head-doctor

PR-machine up and running....

We are members of the MPCC, the Mouvement Pour Cyclisme Credibile - part of the French anti-doping professional program - to check cortisol levels - we follow the no-needle policy, there are no outside supplements allowed, no outside trainers, we don't use sprays - we think this is a good idea, and we joined the MPCC in 2013 - not all the teams in the World Tour are members of the MPCC, we think this should not be the case -"

"It adds to the overall number of blood tests we do in a year - I would say the top riders are tested approximately no less than 50 times per year - the top riders - Nibali at the tour was once tested four times in 24 hours - and he wore the yellow jersey for 18 days -"

"I came aboard with Vino in 2013 - it was the first time I met him, and he asked me to be the head doctor here - I told him the first thing, 'Ok, Vino that's great if that is the case, then I need absolutely to increase the budget to bring a fourth doctor for the team -"

"Four doctors is the minimum you can have in a big team at the top level - this way we can always have a doctor at every race, and one back at home to work at the computer or process our data if something has to happen -"

"Bad things happen, and idiots exist all around the world, even in cycling - two idiots who violated the rules on their own got caught, and the system caught them - that means the system works -"

"The team has everything in place for riders who want to succeed without doping, and Astana has 30 riders and 40 staff - who are the very best in the business - and all together we are at the front in the fight against performance enhancing drugs in cycling - "

No worries then.. It must all be some kind of misunderstanding

 

[DirtyWorks]

Head of Kazakh cycling federation and Astana chairman Darkan Kaletayev talks.

Apparently they are looking for an additional sponsor for the team.

Very informative! Even through a translator. Here's another link to the same article. I don't know why but your link did not work for me.

http://astanafans.com/darxan-kaleta...enskaya-bavariya-ili-barselona-v-futbole.html

- And how many riders club receive more than 300 thousand dollars?

- Less than half of 10 people.


Ouch.

Guy gets upwards of 100,000 euro per year with bonus. Sports administration pays pretty well!

 

[markene2]

Called it!!

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

 

[Beech Mtn]

The Italians to take over the team, or Kash to the rescue?

Please Cookson, let Kash run the team. That would be awesome

 

[DirtyWorks]

Called it!!

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

That's a mistake. He makes the best 'enemy.'

CIRC report to mention Vino in evil doping plot while Contador is never mentioned. Who can the west dislike now??? They can't touch Makarov regardless of how bad things are in Russia.

 

[markene2]

The Italians to take over the team, or Kash to the rescue?

Please Cookson, let Kash run the team. That would be awesome

Imo, as i've said before, Kash is very likely. But, it will probably be a mixture of both. Martinelli to lead the Italian side, and Shefer and Kash to lead the other.

 

[mrhender]

That's a mistake. He makes the best 'enemy.'

CIRC report to mention Vino in evil doping plot while Contador is never mentioned. Who can the west dislike now??? They can't touch Makarov regardless of how bad things are in Russia.

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..

 

[Netserk]

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.