Yesterday it came out that Lars Boom had recorded low cortisol levels and that he would be unable to start the Tour de France as per the rules of the Movement for a Credible Cycling of which Astana is a member. The team tried to replace him with Alessandro Vanotti but after the UCI refused to let them do so, they have decided to let the Dutchman start, issuing the following statement.

"Astana Pro Team will start the 2015 Tour de France with nine riders, including Dutch cyclist Lars Boom.

"After the 3 July receipt of blood tests administered by the UCI on 2 July that showed a low level of cortisol, Astana Pro Team medical staff examined Boom in order to assess the athlete's health and viability for the 2015 Tour de France start in Utrecht.

"As such, a low cortisol level is grounds to stop a rider for a minimum eight days of competition in order to prevent any health risk to the rider according to rules established by the MPCC, of which Astana Pro Team is a member.

"Astana Pro Team asked the UCI to allow a replacement rider in place of Boom, and received confirmation from the UCI that as a low cortisol result is no risk to the health of the rider, therefore there are no valid grounds for a late substitution.

"Team medical staff have advised that Boom's low cortisol result is the consequence of a long-standing and well-known application of anti-asthma therapy by the athlete and is not a violation of UCI rules and regulations.

"Team medical staff have advised that there is no danger to the rider's health or safety to start the 2015 Tour de France.

"Astana Pro Team medical staff will continue to monitor Boom to assess any potential health risk for the athlete, and will retest the athlete in the next days with independent medical supervision to clarify the origins of the CADF results."

As the team doesn't obey to MPCC rules, they face expulsion from the organization. Earlier this year Bardiani-CSF decided to line up a rider in a similar position for the Giro d'Italia and later decided to leave the MPCC.