Kazakh Turkey: Alexander Vinokourov Fingers Andrey Kasheckin as Astana Risk, Forgets Self

The strange and irritating saga of Alexander Vinokourov continues. In typical "Vino" fashion, the ex-doper and liar Vinokourov claimed that former teammate Andrey Kasheckin was a risk for the Astana team to sign due to his checkered doping past. As usual, Vinokourov neglected to address his own lies and deceits, instead attempting to make his younger countryman appear in a negative light.

Alexander Vinokourov continues to amaze with his seemingly limitless ability to railroad anyone, anywhere, for his own personal gain. Kasheckin likely was encouraged to dope by Vinokourov, yet the youngster is hung out to dry by his former teammate. Instead of standing in front of the world media and labeling himself as a risk, Vinokorouv once again figures he can play the world as fools, hoping that they won't see thorough his deception.

Alexander Vinokourov, as evidenced by EP's most recent poll, is a blight on the cycling community, and should be eradicated as soon as possible. He has not once been willing to admit his lies, and now he has gone as far as to try to further compromise the career of a former teammate. Hopefully the UCI will find a way to have him banned, or at least Astana will be denied a Pro Tour licence, which would effectively eliminate Vinokourov from the year's biggest races. Failing that though, we'll all have to hope that "Vino" is stupid enough to try to dope again. After all, that is the only way he'll ever get to the top step of the podium in any big time race.