News of Eduard Vorganov’s positive test for meldonium broke just as Alexander Kristoff was preparing to leave for the airport on Friday evening, and the Norwegian checked in wondering if his long trek to the Tour of Qatar would prove in vain.
The Vorganov case is Katusha’s second anti-doping violation in the past twelve months, following Luca Paolini’s positive test for cocaine at the Tour de France, and under the UCI’s revised rules, the entire team could face a suspension of between 15 and 45 days.
“Immediately when I saw the news, for sure, I thought I might be coming on a day trip down here,” Kristoff told reporters in Doha on the eve of the Tour of Qatar.
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“The UCI said they would be really strict with the new rules on anti-doping. These are two special cases; especially with Luca, it was a lifestyle problem he had, and now this. We will see what the reaction will be.”
In a statement on Friday evening, the UCI said that its Disciplinary Commission would issue its verdict on Katusha’s status “in the coming days". As of Sunday evening, however, no white smoke had emanated from Aigle, and, for now at least, Kristoff will begin his season as planned at the Tour of Qatar on Monday.
“I thought they would give us some idea tomorrow or the day after but if they don’t say anything tomorrow, then for sure we will start,” Kristoff said. “I am prepared to start and I hope I don’t need to wait another 15 or more days to start my season.”
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