There seems to be no end to the Astana doping cases. Now Artur Fedosseyev has become the fifth rider from the structure to test positive and the third rider from the Astana Continental Team. After this announcement, Alexandre Vinokourov takes the matter in hand and decided to "suspend indefinitely the continental team".
"Young riders are crazy. They do not understand that doping is no longer acceptable in cycling. But it is also a sign, a call to our federation. As we have repeatedly asked, the Kazakh federation must do more inspections and have more severe sanctions. People need to understand that this is another reality and that Astana has nothing to do with it. We have nothing to share, just the shirt and the name", he said according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Kazakh boss is not afraid of a World Tour suspension. "We have provided all the explanations that were required."
Changes at the highest level have also occurred. The president of the Kazkakhstan Cycling Federation Kairat Kelimbetov leaves his position and is replaced by Darkan Mangeldiev, "Vinokourov is a great friend," the new president told La Gazzetta . It is also likely that Dmitri Sedoun, manager of the Continental team and sports director of the WorldTour team, will have to search for a new job.
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