Astana to appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport if licence is revoked
Last Updated: 28/02/15 1:10pm
Astana have indicated they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if their racing licence is revoked.
The International Cycling Union announced on Friday it would ask its Licence Commission to revoke the licence of Astana - the team of last year's Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali - following an independent audit.
The audit was ordered by the UCI after a number of anti-doping infringements by Astana and its feeder team.
A statement from Astana released on Friday evening read: "Astana Pro Team has received confirmation from the Union Cycliste International of their receipt of results from the recent audit by the Institute of Sport and Science at the University of Lausanne, and the subsequent transfer of those results to the independent licence commission.
"Astana Pro Team will consult with its attorneys to prepare documents and testimony before the independent Licence Commission.
"Astana Pro Team will reserve its rights pending due process at the independent licence commission to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport following the scheduled procedure."
Astana had five riders from their senior and development teams fail drigs tests in 2014. Brothers Valentin Iglinskiy and Maxim Iglinskiy tested positive for EPO, while under-23 riders Ilya Davidenok, Viktor Okishev and Artur Fedosseyev all tested positive for steroids.
