In reply to Oujmik:
Excellent stuff from inner ring (as ever). Particularly this line
"The theoretical solution would be a management clear out but the Kazakh sponsors can hardly get rid of Vinokourov. The team has changed managers over the years, you’ll remember – chuckle – they brought in Johan Bruyneel to help clean up after previous doping scandals and this was just one of several managerial switch. There could be a managerial clear-out but it’s hard to expect. Instead we’ll probably see money thrown at the lawyers with an appeal."
Astana has been dirty from day 1. Actually from well before that when it was Liberty Siguros (or were they a band) or Astana-Wurth. And then you had Bertie and the beef, Lance, Kruiezinger and of course the various doping and bribery scandals from Vino himself. Having said that I think there's a fair chance that Nibbles is clean, along with the rest of the Italian enclave in there (though hiring Pantani's doctor was a strange move), but this is the risk you take when you go after the money.
Hopefully the UCI's approach will pay off and this will be upheld by CAS. It will be sad not to see Nibbles defend his title at the tour, but worth it not to see Vino there.
