The Continental Team Astana claims to be "shocked and disappointed" after the UCI has announced that its rider Viktor Okishev has tested positive for anabolic androgenic steroids. The team is organizing immediate inquiries into the Okishev case in order to establish an overview of the facts and explanations.

Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiiy from the Astana team who both tested positive for EPO, and Ilya Davidenok from the Continental Team who tested positive for the same substance as Okishev, were the first three doping cases to hit the Astana structure.

As per regulation, the rider has been suspended temporarily from the team while a full explanation of the events is sought. Viktor Okishev has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample.

"All Continental Team Astana riders and staff are shocked and disappointed by the news that comes from a UCI Press Release this Wednesday, effectively six months after the sample was taken" on May 29 2014 at the Asian Championships where Okishev was a member of the national team

"Continental Team Astana will scrupulously follow all UCI rules and regulations, and continues to follow the additional rules as per its voluntary membership in the MPCC. Currently the team is organizing immediate inquiries into the Okishev case in order to establish an overview of the facts and explanations," the statement reads.

The UCI has asked its license commission to review the Astana WorldTour license. A decision is expected in the next few weeks.