UCI screws Astana

[sniper]

UCI and Astana, what's the deal?

What's the deal here?
When it comes to Astana, UCI seem capable of pulling positives out of a friggin hat.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-continental-rider-okishev-tests-positive-for-steroids

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images...60957295386/Magician-pulling-a-rabbit-001.jpg

This doesn't seem smart from UCI.
Are people really gonna believe that only Astana dope?
You need half a brain to suspect the worse, namely that in this era still everybody dopes and the difference between getting caught or not depends on the ties you have with UCI.

Anyway, what's the deal with Astana particularly? Are there issues playing behind the scenes on the sponsor-level? Deeper financial disagreements with UCI?
Conflicts of interest that we don't know of?
Or is it really just Cookson trying to get rid of Alexander 'old school' Vinokourov by target testing Astana?

Or is it less complicated? Are Astana really doping more than other teams? Or simply less cleverly?

 

[markene2]

What's the deal here?
When it comes to Astana, UCI seem capable of pulling positives out of a friggin hat.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-continental-rider-okishev-tests-positive-for-steroids



This doesn't seem smart from UCI.
Are people really gonna believe that only Astana dope?
You need half a brain to suspect the worse, namely that in this era still everybody dopes and the difference between getting caught or not depends on the ties you have with UCI.

Anyway, what's the deal with Astana particularly? Are there issues playing behind the scenes on the sponsor-level? Deeper financial disagreements with UCI?
Conflicts of interest that we don't know of?
Or is it really just Cookson trying to get rid of Alexander 'old school' Vinokourov?

Or is it less complicated? Are Astana really the only ones failing the doping tests?

I'm attaching a pole to see what people think.

The bolded part is your answer

 

[thehog]

What's the deal here?
When it comes to Astana, UCI seem capable of pulling positives out of a friggin hat.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-continental-rider-okishev-tests-positive-for-steroids



This doesn't seem smart from UCI.
Are people really gonna believe that only Astana dope?
You need half a brain to suspect the worse, namely that in this era still everybody dopes and the difference between getting caught or not depends on the ties you have with UCI.

Anyway, what's the deal with Astana particularly? Are there issues playing behind the scenes on the sponsor-level? Deeper financial disagreements with UCI?
Conflicts of interest that we don't know of?
Or is it really just Cookson trying to get rid of Alexander 'old school' Vinokourov?

Or is it less complicated? Are Astana really the only ones failing the doping tests?

I'm attaching a pole to see what people think.

Be careful of that rabbit! The Dawg will kill it! Feed it to the snakes!

The UCI are awesome. Horse steriods at ProTour level are fine. Erroneous steriods in a non-descript Asian race are very bad.

 

[DirtyWorks]

The UCI are awesome. Horse steriods at ProTour level are fine. Erroneous steriods in a non-descript Asian race are very bad.

Bio passport works.


I say they are causing problems we don't see. A lack of Money very likely involved.

 

[sniper]

The UCI are awesome. Horse steriods at ProTour level are fine. Erroneous steriods in a non-descript Asian race are very bad.

good point.

I say they are causing problems we don't see. A lack of Money very likely involved.

but how you think UCI are pulling those positivies out of their hat?
Target testing?
Haven't Astana read the 'How to properly mask doping and fly below the radar' manual?

 

[Benotti69]

Cookson not happy with just hookers and blow in Kazakhstan....

He wants his nephews, nieces, and other family members on pro teams

 

[mrhender]

IF this is the countdown to pulling the rug under Vino they need a certain discourse to settle within the general public.

So far, so good I'd say..

It is hard to think that recent development is purely of coincidental nature..

I don't know if the fact that it is only class C-D riders that gets caught should be comforting or worrying.. I know what my gut tells me..

 

[Netserk]

Why the press release and not just updating the provisional suspended pdf?

 

[DirtyWorks]

but how you think UCI are pulling those positivies out of their hat?
Target testing?
Haven't Astana read the 'How to properly mask doping and fly below the radar' manual?

-Apparently rampant doping is a problem even though there is only IOC English speaking media hangers-on reporting this widely.

-Kazhakstan is in the running to host an Olympics event. Maybe this is "Cleaning up" like what happened in Russia pre-Sochi.

-Old fashion steroids are tough to hide unless the sports federation is protecting the athlete. Apparently the TUE's are not so free-flowing in Kazhakstan.

-IMO, the UCI has a drawer full of positive recommendations. They send inquiry letters discussed in other threads and then just wait.

Like Kreuziger, for some reason we'll probably never know, the UCI wants them out of the WT. It will be very interesting to see if there's another sponsor there to sweep up the organization.

 

[sniper]

...
-IMO, the UCI has a drawer full of positive recommendations. They send inquiry letters discussed in other threads and then just wait.

Like Kreuziger, for some reason we'll probably never know, the UCI wants them out of the WT. It will be very interesting to see if there's another sponsor there to sweep up the organization.

My thoughts exactly.
But then aren't UCI making it way too obvious this time?

 

[thehog]

My thoughts exactly.
But then aren't UCI making it way too obvious this time?

I've checked the UCI policy document and it appears you're not allowed to have a long surname and it can't be euro sounding.

Kreuziger, he has to go down, surname too long.
Vinokourov, too long, ban him.
Iglingsky x 2, way too long, ban them.
Rogers? Short, he gets a pass.
Impey? Short name, non-Euro, pass.
Froome? Short he can take prednisone.
JTL? Short name but hang on, Tiernan-Locke, that's Euro sounding and long, 2 year ban.

 

[ebandit]

Loving it......so now Mr Universe-style anabolic roids are dismissed as 'erroneous'.....and Froome's cough medicine is now elevated to some sort of überdope that can make people invincible

Mark L

 

[ebandit]

Move along.....nothing to see here.....just a bit of erroniousnous

Meanwhile, beware Evil Horse Steroid user....

 

[gustienordic]

Doping Score Card for Teams we pretty much all assume are dirty:

Astana = 4
Tinkoff = 1 (Although Kreuziger should almost count for Astana)
Sky = 1
Movistar = 0

Apparently only teams that are entirely in Europe are relatively safe from Crookston

 

[pastronef]

I would add Endura to the list

Astana = 4
Tinkoff = 1 (Although Kreuziger should almost count for Astana)
Endura/Sky = 1
Movistar = 0

 

[Netserk]

Doping Score Card for Teams we pretty much all assume are dirty:

Astana = 4
Tinkoff = 1 (Although Kreuziger should almost count for Astana)
Sky = 1
Movistar = 0

Apparently only teams that are entirely in Europe are relatively safe from Crookston

Kreuziger was cleared (and yes, just like Contador, he should count for Astana). Otherwise you should count Rogers as well.

 

[gustienordic]

Kreuziger was cleared (and yes, just like Contador, he should count for Astana). Otherwise you should count Rogers as well.

Ahh, I included Kreuziger because the UCI is appealing to CAS and as we've seen before, that often results in a ban

But if I don't include Kreuziger and count JTL for Endura:

then Astana =4

all other doping powerhouses =0

 

[DirtyWorks]

I would add Endura to the list

Astana = 4
Tinkoff = 1 (Although Kreuziger should almost count for Astana)
Endura/Sky = 1
Movistar = 0

Why would Movistar be a zero?
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1278624&postcount=1

Eusebio Unzué Labiano created Delgado and Indurain

 

[thehog]

I've checked the UCI policy document and it appears you're not allowed to have a long surname and it can't be euro sounding.

Kreuziger, he has to go down, surname too long.
Vinokourov, too long, ban him.
Iglingsky x 2, way too long, ban them.
Rogers? Short, he gets a pass.
Impey? Short name, non-Euro, pass.
Froome? Short he can take prednisone.
JTL? Short name but hang on, Tiernan-Locke, that's Euro sounding and long, 2 year ban.

Henao? Short name, rides for Anglo team. Pass.

 

[D-Queued]

What's the deal here?
When it comes to Astana, UCI seem capable of pulling positives out of a friggin hat.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-continental-rider-okishev-tests-positive-for-steroids



This doesn't seem smart from UCI.
Are people really gonna believe that only Astana dope?
You need half a brain to suspect the worse, namely that in this era still everybody dopes and the difference between getting caught or not depends on the ties you have with UCI.

Anyway, what's the deal with Astana particularly? Are there issues playing behind the scenes on the sponsor-level? Deeper financial disagreements with UCI?
Conflicts of interest that we don't know of?
Or is it really just Cookson trying to get rid of Alexander 'old school' Vinokourov by target testing Astana?

Or is it less complicated? Are Astana really doping more than other teams? Or simply less cleverly?

Are you sure Astana is being targeted? This sounds like a wrist-slap is on the way:

While the Astana team could be refused a WorldTour licence on ethical grounds, it more likely to be reprimanded and ordered to improve its anti-doping activities within the team.

And, not looking to be too cynical, but 'improving anti-doping activities' under the Nein and Phat regimes could suggest contributing a few dollars under the table.

Dave.

 

[thehog]

Are you sure Astana is being targeted? This sounds like a wrist-slap is on the way:



And, not looking to be too cynical, but 'improving anti-doping activities' under the Nein and Phat regimes could suggest contributing a few dollars under the table.

Dave.

Improve their "anti-doping activities"?

Does that mean they need to suppress positives and make up research like "non-native altitude" studies?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Improve their "anti-doping activities"?

Does that mean they need to suppress positives and make up research like "non-native altitude" studies?

Anti is a misprint.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Improve their "anti-doping activities"?

Does that mean they need to suppress positives and make up research like "non-native altitude" studies?

Now kids, there's a time and place to take the dope and Kazhakstan is not it. When you get to under-23 international events, then take the EPO+HGH+Test.

 

[TailWindHome]

Henao? Short name, rides for Anglo team. Pass.

Clearly Sky were tipped off about the short name thing...

2010 Sky Professional Cycling
2011–2013 Sky Procycling
2014 Team Sky

 

[thehog]

Clearly Sky were tipped off about the short name thing...

2010 Sky Professional Cycling
2011–2013 Sky Procycling
2014 Team Sky

You see?!

Porte will be fine btw, short name.