Astana to resume training on Saturday08.08.2007 10:00 SportsBy Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) - Astana will resume training this weekend despite being in the midst of their self-imposed racing suspension for the month of August, the Swiss cycling team said on Wednesday. "Although the Astana Cycling Team will not take part in any official races this month, it will not stand around with its arms folded," Astana said in a statement. "Therefore, there will be a training camp from August 11-24 in the Conches Valley (Switzerland). Nineteen riders, including Andreas Kloeden, Andrej Kashechkin and Paolo Savoldelli, will participate." The team, backed by Kazakh companies, pulled out of last month's Tour de France after lead rider Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping during the race. Vinokourov was sacked, despite denying any wrongdoing, and the team opted to suspend its racing activities for a month. Astana added that all riders would undergo medical and physiological tests. "The new policy of the team will be introduced to the members," the statement added. Astana riders have signed the International Cycling Union's anti-doping charter but the team's staff, who had until last Sunday to sign, have failed to do so. Pat McQuaid, the president of cycling's governing body, the UCI, said last month that any team whose members had not signed the document by August 5 would be dealt with "on a case-by-case" basis. Source: reuters.comwww.alllee.com |
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