Yesterday Alexandre Vinokourov was reported to have accused Astana CEO Aidar Makhmetov of hacking his email with the purpose of provoking a corruption case. Today the Kazakh has issued a statement to categorically deny the claims.

The 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege continues to make headlines in the cycling world. Yesterday Sudinfo + reported that Alexandre Vinokourov had accused Astana CEO Aidar Makhmetov of hacking his mail in the case that relates to the accusations of the Kazakh having paid Alexandr Kolobnev to let him win.

Vinokourov returned from suspension for his positive test for blood doping in late 2009 and proved that he was back to his former level when he won his second Liege-Bastogne-Liege the following year. However, L'Illustre later published an email correspondence between the Kazakh and runner-up Alexandr Kolobnev that indicated that Kolobnev had received 150 000 Euros for letting the Astana rider win when the two were together at the end of the race. The UCI opened an investigation into the matter but closed the investigation when L'Illustre refused to reveal its source.

Yesterday's report alleged that Vinokourov had accused Makhmetov for having hacked his mail to provoke a corruption case against the Kazakh. However, the 2012 Olympic champion has now issued a statement to deny that he has ever made such accusations.

“There was a statement in 2011 about Mr. X [an unnamed person – ed.], but in no way was that against Aidar (Makhmetov - ed.) or anybody personally,” he stated. “The mail was hacked and I made a claim. Now the story has been turned entirely upside down and convoluted. Whomever it benefits to take this info and put somebody's name to it - I can't imagine.”

Sudinfo + reported that Vinokourov was heard last week by the prosecutor of Liège, who was investigating the claims. While the case has now been closed by the Belgians, it may drag on as Vinokourov has complained to the Office of the Public Prosecutor in Nice about the alleged hacking.

Vinokourov ended his career in 2012 and is now general manager at Astana.