The Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday confirmed that its Licence Commission has "opted not to revoke" the WorldTour license from the Astana team, but will "instead keep its existing registration as long as it complies with 'special measures,'" according to CYCLING NEWS. The announcement "did not include any specifics about what Astana must do," but stated the measures were suggested by the representatives from the Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne, the same organization that carried out "the independent audit" that precipitated the license hearing. UCI President Brian Cookson "has been vocal in his criticism of the team and open in his opinion" that the team should lose its license (CYCLING NEWS, 4/24). In London, William Fotheringham reported professional cycling was waiting to "see the finer details" of the UCI license commission's decision. Cycling teams umbrella body AIGCP said in a statement, "We request the licence commission to make the reasoning public, for the
sake of transparency towards the fans, the media and fellow cycling
teams." But the UCI was unable to say when the "reasoned decision" would be
disclosed because its hands were "effectively tied:" the process lies with
the license commission that is kept distant from the governing body. The UCI under Cookson "had entered uncharted waters" when it asked the ISSUL to audit Astana's ethics. While the
processes for sanctioning riders over doping infractions "are clearcut
there is no set method for taking steps against teams suspected of
condoning doping." This is why "throughout the saga there has been a feeling that policy has been created on the hoof" (GUARDIAN, 4/24).
