Oleg Tinkov suggests the UCI WorldTour licensing system should be changed
Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank is fighting for a World Tour spot as UCI still has not yet finalised the list of teams to enjoy the top level of the sport for the new season.
The Dutch team is in competition with Team Argos-Shimano as one out of those two will be awarded the UCI World Tour status for 2013 season.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff backer Oleg Tinkov has suggested that there is a need to reshape the UCI WorldTour licensing system and also noted that the doping problems related with the sport have been ‘exaggerated’.
The Danish team could not secure enough UCI points to ensure its World Tour status for the new season and the main reason behind its struggle was the demise of Alberto Contador after he was handed a two-year ban for doping previously in his career.
Contador was charged for using clenbuterol at the Tour de France 2010 was given the back dated ban along with disqualification from all his previous wins.
He could not participate in any of the major cycling races of the season and could not help the team with enough UCI points.
According to UCI, points earned by any cyclist, returning from a doping ban will not count towards the team’s total for a period of two years and even Alberto’s 290 points earned this season are of no use for the team.
"Alberto Contador is a superstar, the best racer in the world, and I can't even remember the names of whoever Argos-Shimano have in their squad," RIA Novosti reported Tinkov as saying.
"It's absolutely, obviously, a crazy situation. Personally, it's difficult for me to imagine a situation where we don't receive a licence".
While commenting on Contador’s doping, he stated that the issue has been overstated as doping is present in all the sports but it gets extra importance in cycling.
“This problem is exaggerated. As far as I understand it, the topic of doping exists everywhere, in other sports too, but nowhere does it get such phenomenal attention”.
A final decision by the UCI is expected on December 10, 2012 which will give us a list of UCI World Tour teams to ride at the top level of the sport for the new season.
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