The International Cycling Union (UCI) have backed the stance that Astana and its continental team are two different teams and that "there is a legal difference" between the two structures. Therefore, the doping cases at the latter team is unlikely to jeopardize the WorldTour team license of Vincenzo Nibali and Alexandre Vinokourov although the Licensing Commission will make the final decision.

"The WorldTour and Continental teams are two different structures," explains Philippe Chevalier, technical director of the UCI, in L'Equipe. "It is wrong to announce that Astana have had five doping positives as three of the riders have been wearing the colors of the continental team."

"Continental teams are affiliated with the UCI via their national federations while professional teams (first and second division) are regulated directly to the UCI. There is a legal difference between the two entities. Therefore we must avoid seeing the teams as one structure," he told the French sports daily.

However, the final decision about Astana's WorldTour licensewill be taken the Licensing Commission, an independent body. The Kazakh Federation expects to resolve the situation with the continental team quickly and have suspened its activity indefinitely. Yesterday it was reported that Alexandre Vinokourov who had made that decision but as he is not in charge of the formation, it has been pointed out that the federation is the one to react. L'Equipe also reports that the UCI is expected to receive the results of the investigation of the five positives that has been carried out by the Kazakh federation. The managers of the federation are also expected to implement new measures to combat doping.