The UCI requests withdrawal of Astana Pro Team licence

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today confirms that it has now reviewed the audit produced bythe Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL) (1) on Astana Pro Team and itsanti-doping culture, policies, structures and management systems. The audit was one of theconditions attached to the registration of the team in the 2015 UCI WorldTour.

After careful review of this extensive report, the UCI strongly believes that it contains compellinggrounds to refer the matter to the Licence Commission (2) and request the Astana Pro Team licence bewithdrawn.

The UCI considers that the ISSUL audit has, among other things, revealed a big difference betweenthe policies and structures that the team presented to the Licence Commission in December and thereality on the ground.

In addition, the Italian authorities have provided the UCI with the sections of the Padova investigationwhich it has been authorized to share. As some evidence concerns Astana Pro Team members, thefile has been passed to the Licence Commission as part of this referral.

For the sake of due process, the UCI is not in a position to comment further on the content of the auditreport, nor the Padova investigation, until the Licence Commission has assessed the situation andrendered its decision. But this decision to refer the matter to the Licence Commission was reachedtaking all circumstances and potential consequences into consideration.

The UCI will not make any further comment until the Licence Commission has rendered its decision.

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