The doping train continues to rumble relentlessly on and for the second time in a month it has rolled into the Kazakhstan Railways headquarters and another Astana Cycling Team member has emerged. This time it's Andrej Kashechkin who has tested positive to a homologous blood transfusion after a random blood test was taken on August 1.
The Astana website has made a statement saying :
Whereas the Astana Cycling Team makes great efforts to be rebuilt on new bases, the positive control of Kashechkin once more damages the credibility of the team. This new hard blow does nothing but reinforce the will of the Astana Cycling Team’s management to set up drastic measures for a clean cycling.
I've got a bit of a news flash for ya Astana, this is more than just damages your credibility. One positive you'd say it was a rider thing, two positives for exactly the same offence and you'd have to say it was a team thing. Astana are already under a self-imposed month long "break", this latest blow could just about destroy the team - and who better than a team like Slipstream with their aggressive anti-doping, anti-drugs stance to slip in and take their place?
A decision on whether the team will take their place in this year's Vuelta a Espana will be announced on Monday, but Vuelta race director Victor Cordero said Astana's chances didn't look good.
The Saunier Duval - Providor team has been notified by the UCI that Iban Mayo has tested positive for EPO following a test on July 24.
