After Astana has decided to fire Miguel Ángel López after finding apparent evidence and testimonies against him for the use of menotropin in the 2022 Giro d’Italia and involvement in the Myanmar case of drug trafficking, his general manager has decided to speak to the press again.
“We gave him a hand in 2021 (after the controversial departure from Movistar) and we obtained good results with him. It’s a shame that he went against the internal rules of the team. I can’t go into details or say much. We have rules within our team, and if you don’t follow them, you’re out,” said Alexsandr Vinokurov as the team advances to a training camp in Spain.
The media present insisted on the López case and commented: “There is nothing more to say. We gave him a chance before La Vuelta (2022), but I cannot play. It’s clear to everyone, you have to respect that.”
In addition, he acknowledged that this news has impacted everyone on the team and that they are aware of the delicate situation, but that they will work with the professionals involved. to prepare well for the 2023 season without its great leader and with an important space for the cycle market.
It should be noted that the Colombians Juan Carlos López (Miguel Ángel’s brother) and Hárold Tejada are still in Astana. About them, Vinokurov explained that he continues to trust the Latin American cyclists on his team, adding the Ecuadorian Martín López and that they hope that it is an isolated case.