Vino: Our rights violated
Monday, August 20, 2007
ALEXANDER VINOKOUROV has accused cycling authorities of violating human rights and vowed to clear his name after failing a doping test at the Tour de France.
The 33-year-old, back in his native Kazakhstan for the first time since his explusion from last month's race, said in an exclusive interview that riders were being subjected to doping controls far beyond those in any other sport.
"In cycling nobody respects human rights," said Vinokourov after stepping off a flight from Frankfurt with his wife and three children.
"The situation is now worse than any other sport. I hope the truth will be found and I am going to fight for it."
Vinokourov, the pre-race favourite, tested positive for blood doping after winning a Tour time trial on July 21. He was sacked by his Astana team, who later suspended their activities until the end of August.
Astana have also been barred from next month's Tour of Spain.
Another of the team's riders, Kazakh Andrey Kashechkin, failed a random doping test while training in Turkey on Aug 1.
Vinokourov, wearing an orange T-shirt with sunglasses perched on his head, was met at Astana airport by his father and Kazakh sporting officials, who have maintained his innocence.
A crowd of around 20 fans also gathered outside the airport, carrying flowers and waving banners saying "Vino, you are the best" and "Alexander, you are our hero".
Vinokourov, facing a two-year ban from cycling and a big fine, plans to continue racing.
"I am not going to end my career like this so we will fight on," he said.
Tour de France organisers were confident they had scored points in the fight against doping when Vinokourov and another leading contender, Danish rider Michael Rasmussen, were sent packing from the race.
The Kazakh rider criticised the way doping checks were carried out.
"You have to say three months in advance where you are planning to be, at what hour and minute. It's not possible," said Vinokourov.
"You know what's happened with Andrey. He went on holiday and they came there at 11pm. I think it's a clear violation of human rights." Reuters
The 33-year-old, back in his native Kazakhstan for the first time since his explusion from last month's race, said in an exclusive interview that riders were being subjected to doping controls far beyond those in any other sport.
"In cycling nobody respects human rights," said Vinokourov after stepping off a flight from Frankfurt with his wife and three children.
"The situation is now worse than any other sport. I hope the truth will be found and I am going to fight for it."
Vinokourov, the pre-race favourite, tested positive for blood doping after winning a Tour time trial on July 21. He was sacked by his Astana team, who later suspended their activities until the end of August.
Astana have also been barred from next month's Tour of Spain.
Another of the team's riders, Kazakh Andrey Kashechkin, failed a random doping test while training in Turkey on Aug 1.
Vinokourov, wearing an orange T-shirt with sunglasses perched on his head, was met at Astana airport by his father and Kazakh sporting officials, who have maintained his innocence.
A crowd of around 20 fans also gathered outside the airport, carrying flowers and waving banners saying "Vino, you are the best" and "Alexander, you are our hero".
Vinokourov, facing a two-year ban from cycling and a big fine, plans to continue racing.
"I am not going to end my career like this so we will fight on," he said.
Tour de France organisers were confident they had scored points in the fight against doping when Vinokourov and another leading contender, Danish rider Michael Rasmussen, were sent packing from the race.
The Kazakh rider criticised the way doping checks were carried out.
"You have to say three months in advance where you are planning to be, at what hour and minute. It's not possible," said Vinokourov.
"You know what's happened with Andrey. He went on holiday and they came there at 11pm. I think it's a clear violation of human rights." Reuters
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