FILE: CYCLING - Alexander Vinokourov is sacked by his Astana team following positive test for blood doping on the Tour de France

Record ID: 722263

  • Title: FILE: CYCLING - Alexander Vinokourov is sacked by his Astana team following positive test for blood doping on the Tour de France
  • Date: 31st July 2007
  • Summary: (LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 6 2007) (REUTERS) ALEXANDER VINOKOUROV LEADS ASTANA TEAM TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE PRESENTATION AT START OF TOUR DE FRANCE ASTANA NEWS CONFERENCE/VINOKOUROV BEING ASKED QUESTION AT NEWS CONFERENCE ASTANA TEAM PREPARING BIKES FOR TOUR DE FRANCE ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAA9P32KFC81QXT0YMKEJAGMAX2
  • Story Text: Alexander Vinokourov has been sacked by the Astana team following his positive test for blood doping on the Tour de France, the team announced on Monday (July 30).
    "Astana Cycling Team received confirmation that Alexander Vinokourov's B sample was 'non negative'," the Swiss team backed by Kazakh companies said in a statement.
    "Consequently, the Kazakh rider has been sacked by Astana cycling team with immediate effect."
    Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping following his victory in a time trial in Albi on July 21.
    The Kazakh left the race last Tuesday (July 24) and his Astana team were invited by Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation to pull out of the event.
    Vinokourov, winner of last year's Tour of Spain, denies doping. If found guilty he faces a two-year ban and according to the International Cycling Union's (UCI) anti-doping charter will have to pay a fine equal to a year's salary.
    Spaniard Alberto Contador of the Discovery Channel team won this year's Tour which was marred by doping scandals.
    Italian Cristian Moreni tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone and his Cofidis team also left the race.
    Michael Rasmussen was sacked by his Rabobank team when leading the race for lying about his training whereabouts, an allegation the Dane denies.
    He had previously received two recorded warnings from the UCI for failing to provide the sport's governing body with his personal schedule.
    Last year's Tour champion Floyd Landis is awaiting the ruling of a U.S.
    arbitration panel after testing positive for testosterone during the 2006 race. He denies using performance-enhancing substances.
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