Wheels could come off soon for top cycling team
Cycling team Astana are expecting to learn whether they will retain their World Tour (elite) licence in about two weeks. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that the International Cycling Union's Licence Commission was to strip Astana, the team of Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali, of its licence following a series of positive anti-doping tests last season."No hearing has yet taken place in the Astana case and therefore no decision has been made," the union said.Astana had until March 20 to submit all documents in their defence to the commission and are planning to send a team to be heard on Thursday in Switzerland.Members of the Kazakh federation, sports directors, riders and the head doctor will travel to the meeting."We've been told it would then take about 10 days," the source said.The cycling union said last month it wanted the sport's licensing commission to strip Astana of its elite status.Kazakhstan-based Astana were only granted the World Tour licence for 2015 "under probation".On February 27 the union said it wanted the licence withdrawn after finishing a review of an audit on Astana.The World Tour licence guarantees its holder direct participation in the top races, including the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.Several Astana riders failed dope tests last season.TV HighlightsTodaySoccer: International Friendly, Netherlands vs Spain at 8.30pm on SS3, Italy vs England at 8.30pm on SS5 and Mali vs Ghana at 8.25pm on SS7Tennis: ATP Miami Open at 5pm on SS6..
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