Russian team claims shortfall in WorldTour registration application was already rectified

Following an eight day wait for details, the Katusha team today received the reasoned decision from the UCI’s Licence Commission as to why it was refused WorldTour licence registration, and has confirmed that it intends to fight the verdict all the way.



The Russian team was the only one out of the UCI’s top-fifteen ranked teams to have its registration application turned down, and was told that it can instead apply for a Pro Continental licence. It immediately protested at the decision, announced last Tuesday it would take legal action, claimed three days later it had garnered the support of almost five million people, and said on Saturday that it had lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.



Having finally got the verdict today, the team said it was determined to fight on.



“All the positions mentioned in this document were considered during [the meeting] held on the 22nd of November 2012 [at the] UCI License Commission preliminary hearing,” it stated. “All the information provided by Katusha by its opinion is complete and corresponds the requirements of the UCI License Commission.”



A letter sent to the UCI on December 11th and published by the Inrng website shows that the team told the Licence Commission that in November 2012, only the ‘financial criterion’ was deemed as not complying. It said that the other three criteria – ethical, sporting and administrative – all satisfied the UCI’s requirements.



It said that it provided ‘all the requested information and documents’ during a hearing held on November 22nd, and said that at that point in time, ‘Mr Pierangelo Beltrami from Ernst & Young confirmed that the explanation and information provided were unconditionally accepted and sufficient.’



The UCI has not communicated the reasons for the refusal, and Katusha has not published today’s letter, nor the specific reasons listed therein. At this point in time, it is not possible to verify the team’s version of events.



Katusha has said that it will continue with its course of action. “After receiving the above-mentioned document the Russian team Katusha confirms its determination to defend its rights using all civilized ways in order to receive the World Tour license, including the already made appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”



Surprisingly, the team claimed last Friday that many of the UCI’s own management committee members had expressed ‘extreme concern’ about the situation and told Russian Cycling Federation president Igor Makarov, who sits on the commission, that they were sympathetic in relation to Katusha’s situation.



“In their responses to Mr. Makarov’s query, UCI Management Committee members called on the responsible persons for the fastest resolution of the situation and to accept only the right decision: returning the World Tour license to Katusha Team,” the team claimed.



The UCI did not respond to requests from VeloNation for verification of this claim.



There is no indication as yet from CAS as to when a hearing will be held. The team has in the meantime applied to the organisers of the Giro d’Italia for a wildcard entry to the race. Its top rider Joaquim Rodriguez won two stages and finished second overall there in 2012.