According to a press release, Valentin Iglinsky has been fired by Astana, after testing positive for EPO at last month’s Eneco Tour.
The 30-year-old Kazakh rider returned a positive sample on the opening stage of the race and has since admitted to using the banned substance.
Astana have now terminated Iglinskiy’s contract with immediate effect and he has been provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union.
In a statement, Astana said:
“Following the announcement by the Union Cycliste Internationale of a positive anti-doping test result for Valentin Iglinskiy during the recent Eneco Tour, management at Astana Pro Team have taken direct and immediate action to release the rider from his contract.
“Valentin has admitted to using prohibited substances on his own initiative and independently, without any consultation from the Astana Pro Team staff.
“In its wish for full transparency, Astana Pro Team has refused to defend a rider who failed to respect the rules and ethics as stipulated in his contract and who has failed to behave in a manner consistent with other riders in his team and within professional cycling.”
Iglinskiy finished the Eneco Tour in 96th place. He raced twice more before his positive sample came to light, finishing 106th at the Vattenfall Cyclassics and 49th at the Brussels Cycling Classic last weekend.
Iglinskiy joined Astana in 2010 and has twice won the Tour of Hainan in China.
Press Release
9.10.14
Following the announcement by the Union Cycliste Internationale of a positive antidoping test result for Valentin Iglinskiy during the recent Eneco Tour, management at Astana Pro Team have taken direct and immediate action to release the rider from his contract –
Valentin has admitted to using prohibited substances on his own initiative and independently, without any consultation from the Astana Pro Team staff –
In its wish for full transparency, Astana Pro Team has refused to defend a rider who failed to respect the rules and ethics as stipulated in his contract and who has failed to behave in a manner consistent with other riders in his team and within professional cycling –
With the immediate expulsion of Valentin Iglinskiy, the management and staff at Astana Pro Team confirm our commitment to clean cycling without doping –
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