Valentin Iglinskiy has returned a positive doping test at the Eneco Tour and has admitted to use prohibited substances. As a consequence, Astana have released the Kazakh sprinter with immediate effect.

Astana has been hit by a doping scandal after Valentin Iglinskiy has tested positive for EPO in a test taken at the Eneco Tour. The Kazakh sprinter has admitted to having used the substance on his own initiative and Astana has released him with immediate effect.

The Kazakh team has issued the following statement:

Following the announcement by the Union Cycliste Internationale of a positive antidoping test result for Valentin Iglinskiy during the recent Eneco Tour, management at Astana Pro Team have taken direct and immediate action to release the rider from his contract.

Valentin has admitted to using prohibited substances on his own initiative and independently, without any consultation from the Astana Pro Team staff.

In its wish for full transparency, Astana Pro Team has refused to defend a rider who failed to respect the rules and ethics as stipulated in his contract and who has failed to behave in a manner consistent with other riders in his team and within professional cycling.

With the immediate expulsion of Valentin Iglinskiy, the management and staff at Astana Pro Team confirm our commitment to clean cycling without doping.