cyclenut Posted December 7, 2007 Share Doped or not - few can argue the fact that he's one of the gutsiest riders of this generation. Alexandre Vinokourov has announced his retirement in the wake of the one-year doping ban he received from the Kazakhstan cycling federation. Vinokourov and his Astana team were kicked out of the 2007 Tour de France after he tested positive for a banned blood transfusion. He was fired by Astana after his B sample confirmed the positive result. He said: "I don't want this sport any more. I'm slamming the door and I'm leaving. I will prove I'm not guilty." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widget Posted December 7, 2007 Share I dont think he had too many options, at 34 he was nearly at the end of his career anyway. I always liked Vino, he didnt say much, did what he had to do and "injected" (no pun intended) a lot of interest into some otherwise dead boring races, very sad, that, like Heras,Ullrich and company, he has to end his sporting career like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sernoche1 Posted December 7, 2007 Share With out Vino there is no Astana Team he owns it runs it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Andreou Posted December 7, 2007 Share With out Vino there is no Astana Team he owns it runs it Not quite sure you're right He was instrumental in getting the Kazakh government and big business to bankroll and endorse the team, but as to him owning it ; he may have some share but how substantial is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_the_builder Posted December 7, 2007 Share With out Vino there is no Astana Team he owns it runs it Not quite sure you're right He was instrumental in getting the Kazakh government and big business to bankroll and endorse the team' date=' but as to him owning it ; he may have some share but how substantial is it?[/quote'] I think Marc Biver "owns" the team as in he holds the PT license. But Vino used his pull inn Boratland to get sponsors on board. The sponsors have given gfinancial garantees to Johan Bruyneel going forward, so thye future of the team looks secure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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