Team Astana has been hit with yet another scandal.
Indeed, the UCI announced today, that the 20 year old, Victor Okishev, who rides for Astana’s continental team, has tested positive for steroid use – dating back to the Asian Cycling Championships in May.
“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that it has notified UCI Continental Team Astana Kazakh rider Victor Okishev of an adverse analytical finding of anabolic androgenic steroids in a sample collected at the Asian Cycling Championships on 29 May 2014,” a statement said.
“The rider has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample. In accordance with UCI anti-doping rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair.”
Although Astana’s Continental team, is technically considered separate from its elite WorldTour team, which features Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali, the case could well have an impact on the License Commission’s view of the Kazakhstan-based team and their operations.
In October, the UCI asked its License Commission to review Astana’s status after brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy, along with trainee, Ilya Davidenok, all tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Press release
11.19.14
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that it has notified UCI Continental Team Astana Kazakh rider Victor Okishev of an Adverse Analytical Finding of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids in a sample collected at the Asian Cycling Championships on 29 May 2014.
The rider has the right to request and attend the analysis of the B sample.
In accordance with UCI Anti-doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the affair.
At this stage of the procedure, the UCI will not comment any further.
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