It's official. Continental Team Astana has been suspended by the Cycling Federation of Kazakhstan and manager Dmitri Sedoun has been sacked after the third doping case at the talent team of the eponymous WorldTour team. Two days ago Alexandre Vinokourvo already announced this step. The Kazakh Federation claims to be working working on "a thorough investigation of doping cases in the continental team" and have taken a number of measures.

"The managing board of Kazakhstan Cycling Federation has decided to suspend the activity of Astana Continental Team while an internal investigation will be accomplished over the doping cases. Dmitri Sedoun,  general manager of "Astana Continental Team" has been dismissed from his position," the team writes in a stetement. Sedoun was also a sports director of the WorldTour team.

Team riders Ilya Davidenok, Victor Okishev and Artur Fedosseyev have all been suspended by the UCI for an adverse analytical finding for androgenic anabolic steroid. On the WorldTour team, brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy tested positive for EPO. 

"The Federation and management of “Astana ProTeam” are interested in carrying out ta horough investigation of the doping cases of the continental team," president Kairat Kelimbetov said. "Our strategic policy is for a clean Kazakhstan cycling. I can assure you that the investigation will be organized in full accordance with the UCI rules and its outcome will be announced in due course."

The Federation says it has adopted an anti-doping program for cycling in Kazakhstan. Educational programs, athlete testing in all categories and biological passports to be executed in cooperation with the National Anti-Doping Agency comprise this program.