The UCI will not contest a decision issued yesterday by the CAS panel not to ban the Katusha rider, Alexander Kolobnev.
Cycling’s world governing body had sought a two-year ban and a 350,000 EURO fine against the Russian, who was ordered to leave last year’s Tour De France after providing a positive sample before stage five for hydrochlorothiazide.
The UCI’s press spokesman told RoadCyclingUK today (1) that the organization had no comment to make on the CAS panel’s decision.
“We have the greatest respect for the CAS, and we accept the decision,” the spokesman said.
Yetserday, the CAS panel issued a statement confirming it had accepted Kolobnev’s defence that the banned substance entered his system as part of medication for a vascular condition.
In a press statement, the panel said: “On the basis of the evidence produced by the parties, the CAS Panel found that been suffering from varix dilatation, a chronic vascular disease, for 15 years, regularly consulted a doctor for it, and surgery and that, in order to treat such disease and enhance his venous system, Kolobnev was recommended by his personal doctor Kapillyaroprotector.”
The panel upheld a fine imposed by the Russian cycling federation of 1,500 Swiss Francs. Kolobnev has also been ordered to foot the bill for the tests on his A and B samples, both of which tested positive. Kolobnev was ordered to leave the Tour five days after providing the first positive sample. Hydrochlorothiazide appears on the 2011 WADA list of prohibited substances under section five: diuretics and other masking agents. It is not considered to have performance enhancing properties.
Kolobnev has twice been national road race champion of Russia. Twice a runner-up in the race to decide the world road race champion, he won bronze in the road race at the Beijing Games. He has a series of top 10 finishes in the Classics, including a second-placed finish at the 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and fifth in last year’s Amstel Gold.
