Defamed Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov is about to complete his suspension for blood doping on 24th July.
He organised a press conference in Monaco, ahead of TDF opening stages and said I intent to run on Astana Team, and If I am not included then heads will roll at Team Astana
here is the excerpts of the press conference :
Quote:
Vino' says he will be on Astana ... or heads will roll
By VeloNews.com
Published: Jul. 2, 2009
Alexander Vinokourov said Wednesday he intends to ride for Astana later this year or there will be serious consequences for those who keep him from riding on the Kazakh-financed team.
In a press conference held in Monaco in advance of Saturday’s Tour de France start, Vinokourov, whose suspension for homologous blood doping ends on July 24, said there’s no possibility that he would ride for any team other than the one he helped establish in 2006.
Vinokourov assembled a coalition of Kazakh sponsors to take over the ProTour license of his old Liberty-Seguros squad after that team folded on the heels of the then-breaking Operación Puerto scandal.
"I will resume my career as a professional on July 24," he said. "I cannot imagine being on a team other than Astana. The Kazakhstan cycling federation wants me on team, I am currently negotiating with Johan Bruyneel and I think we will reach agreement in the next week."
If Bruyneel does not want me, it will be Bruyneel who Alexander Vinokourov
Astana, named after Kazakhstan’s capital city, was funded with the support of powerful political and economic interests in that country. The team was initially built around Vinokourov in hopes of delivering that country’s first Tour de France victory.
The team, however, nearly collapsed following Vinokourov’s suspension for homologous blood-doping at the 2007 Tour. The management shake-up that followed resulted in Bruyneel taking over the team soon after his former sponsor, the U.S.-based Discovery Channel cable network left the sport.
Bruyneel revamped the team, signing a host of former Discovery Channel riders, including 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador, American Levi Leipheimer and, most recently, seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong.
Vinokourov suggested on Wednesday that Bruyneel has little choice but to respect the wishes of his Kazakh sponsors.
"This team was created for me and thanks to my efforts,” Vinokourov said. “I have served my suspension and I do not see why I could not return. If Bruyneel does not want me, it will be Bruyneel who is leaving the team."
Vinokourov said he expects to ride in Astana colors at this August’s Tour of Poland and the Vuelta a España. He also plans to represent Kazakhstan at the world championships at the end of September.
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Looks like Armstrong and his boys will move to LIVESTRONG - NIKE team and Contador will move with his boys to GARMIN _ CHIPOTTLE.
Then the TEAM ASTANA will be his own vinokourov
, come and show that you are strong enough and not cheater like all other who attempted come back after doping.