Alexandre Vinokourov was at the Tour de France 2007 caught blood doping. According to the rules, the rider was suspended for two years by the UCI. He was also fined an annual salary, at that time at a magnitude of 1.2 million Euros.

Vinokourov then drew protest. The CAS ruled favorably for the native of Kazakhstan on the basis of an "illegal doping contract" by the UCI, then used as additional leverage to permanently eradicate doping. The UCI contract for 'rehabilitation and credibility of professional cycling" was signed by 620 riders prior to the start of the Tour de France 2007.

This ruling also has implications for similar charges against Thomas Dekker and Michael Rasmussen, since no legal claim on the annual salaries of riders can be laid. Anyway, the UCI is aware of the weakness of progress in its anti-doping rules and in 2009 followed up with a fine of 70% of the gross annual salary applicable to suspensions of two years or more. This measure was also discussed by the lawyers, but has not been validated by the CAS [yet].

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Links: Alexandre Vinokourov