The new Anti Doping Policy by Team Katusha states in a new clause that riders will have to pay a fine of five times their annual salary in the event of a sanction given for doping offenses. This follows a positive doping test of its Austrian rider Christian Pfannberger in early May prior to the start of the Giro d’Italia.
Three of the Katusha riders have refused this new clause for their contracts: Robbie McEwen, Kenny De Haes and Gert Steegmans. Steegmans has been allowed to start the Crit?rium du Dauphin? Lib?r? despite not adhering to the new team policy.
"He’ll be given a deadline," said team directeur sportif Serge Parsani. "We’ll see who wants to stay with the team and who doesn’t. This initiative is about transparency. It’s not acceptable that only one rider can put about 60 employees of a cycling team in jeopardy. Our team is not looking for money but wants to put in place something that will really dissuade the riders to go against the rules."
Website: Team Katusha
