Vinokourov to learn fate by weekend

Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov will know by the weekend if he can take part the Tour de France which starts on Saturday.

Vinokourov's Astana-Wuerth team - formerly the Spanish team Liberty Seguros - has been asked by race organisers not to compete due to a doping scandal in Spain.

The team, however, have a direct entry to the race because they belong to the UCI-Pro Tour, which decided earlier this month to maintain the team's licence.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said yesterday it would rule on the case before the Tour started the weekend.

"I'm expecting a letter from the Astana-Wuerth team shortly," CAS general secretary Matthieu Reeb told Reuters over the phone.

"We will then set up a quick procedure to rule on the case by Friday the latest," he added.

Tour organisers ASO told Reuters on Monday they did not want the team in their race.

"We have sent a letter to Astana-Wuerth asking them not to take part," ASO spokesman Philippe Sudres said.

Last month an investigation into alleged blood-doping rocked Spanish cycling with media reports suggesting that up to 150 riders could be involved, not all of them Spanish.

Team manager Manolo Saiz and doctor Eufemiano Fuentes were questioned by police, who said they had raided a number of addresses and found a large quantity of medical supplies and more than 100 packs of frozen blood.