The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has allowed the Astana professional cycling team to retain its 2015 World Tour Licence, as long as it complies with a number of special conditions. ‘On the initiative of the [UCI] Licence Commission, ISSUL [the Institute of Sports Sciences at the University of Lausanne] were asked to propose special measures which the Team will be obliged to put in place at specific times over the rest of this season’, read a 23 April statement. ‘The team’s licence is subject to strict monitoring of the conditions laid down. This monitoring will be carried out on the basis of reports transmitted by ISSUL to the Licence Commission. The Licence Commission shall be able to re-open the proceedings if the Astana Pro Team fails to respect one or several of the conditions imposed, or if new elements arise’.

The UCI said that the full reasoned decision would be published in due course. A statement from the Astana team said it was ‘grateful to the License Commission for the opportunity to present the team’s commitment to observing the UCI’s ethical criteria. Astana Pro Team is committed to respecting all measures recommended by ISSUL, and to collaborate in the implementation of further measures that enhance our procedures above and beyond the UCI’s minimum requirements.’

On 27 February, the UCI asked its Licence Commission to withdraw the Astana Pro Team’s World Tour licence, after five of the team’s riders reported doping infractions. On 26 November 2014, Artur Fedosseyev became the fifth Astana Pro Team cyclist to report an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF), after a sample collected that the Tour de l’Ain on 16 August 2014 tested positive for anabolic androgenic steroids. Fedosseyev’s positive follows Victor Okishev’s AAF, reported on 21 November 2014, also for anabolic androgenic steroids. Ilya Davidenok returned an AAF, also for anabolic androgenic steroids, following the Tour de l’Avenir on 28 August 2014. Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) during August 2014.

In February, the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) had said that Astana would remain as a member unless its World Tour licence was suspended, as it had followed its rules. Astana suspended itself from World Tour competitions after its riders reported doping positives, in line with MPCC rules.

• In separate news, Astana’s Italian rider Fabio Aru plans to sue Greg Henderson, a New Zealand cyclist who rides for the Lotto-Soudal professional team, over comments made on Twitter. On 23 April, Henderson alleged that Aru had feigned illness to cover up issues with his biological passport.

‘Regarding the statements published on 23 April 2015 on the Twitter profile of Greg Henderson, Fabio Aru has appointed Lawyer Mr. Napoleone to take legal action against the New Zealand cyclist to protect his image and respectability’, read a 24 April statement on Aru’s internet site. Henderson’s tweets have since been deleted, replaced by an apology.