tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033727023315825483.post-48047305246516789262008-04-29T10:18:00.001-07:002008-04-29T10:18:35.064-07:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'> <p><br />Astana have got been invited to take portion in the 2008 Tour of Kingdom Of Spain despite being banned from the Tour de French Republic and the Giro d'Italia for doping offences. </p><p><br />Astana are one of 20 squads who have got been invited to vie in the Vuelta, Spain's Prime Minister cycling race. </p><p><br />"(All the teams) ran into the upper limit demands in footing of ethics, mental image and administration," said organisers. </p><p><br />Astana withdrew from the 2007 Tour de French Republic after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov failed a doping test. </p><p><br />Team-mate Andrey Kashechkin failed an out-of-competition diagnostic test a calendar month later. </p><p><br />In 2006, respective bicyclists on the squad - then known as Autonomy Seguros - were kicked out on the Eve of the Tour de French Republic after being linked to the Operation Puerto blood-doping dirt in Spain. </p><p><br />Astana's Alberto Contador, who won the 2007 race while he was with Discovery, will not be able to support his Tour title. </p><p><br />Both Contador and squad director Johan Bruyneel moved to an overhauled Akmola team, who have got made much of their new committedness to the fighting against doping, after Discovery were disbanded.</p> </div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587070003453813160noreply@blogger.com