TAS 2006/O/1111 Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) c/Active Bay SL
CAS 2006/O/1111 ASO vs Active Bay SL
Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) is organiser of the Tour de France. Active Bay SL is owner of the UCI Pro Tour license and owner of the Astana-Würth team.
In June 2006 ASO withdrew is invitation for participation into the Tour de France addressed to the Astana-Würth team because of their involvement in doping. The reason for ASO's action were the results of Operation Puerto in Spain were several persons were arrested for supplying doping products.
Following deliberations between ASO and Active Bay ASO filed a request for arbitration in June 2006 with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
ASO requested the Panel to uphold its decision to refuse the participation of the Astana-Würth team in the 2006 Tour de France while Active Bay requested the Panel to confirm the participation of the cycling team.
Considering the large publicity about Operation Puerto the Panel establishes that after its own investigations the UCI License Commission had decided in June 2006 that for the time being the Astana-Würth team could continue its activities.
As a result the Panel concludes that for the moment there are insufficient grounds that justifies the exclusion of the cycling team.
Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decides on 29 June 2006 to dismiss ASO's request to exclude the Astana-Würth team from the 2006 Tour de France.
