Matxin: "We have to get an official response from the UCI"

Speaking to the press at the unveiling of next year's Tour de France route in Paris on Thursday, Joxean "Matxin" Fernández couldn't give a clear answer to Iban's situation. "There is news that the test results came back negative and there is news that the labs want to do another analysis, and the UCI has talked about taking the case to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport)", he said. "We have only heard from the Spanish Federation, which communicated the two negatives from the Gent laboratories, and from the journalists. We have to obtain an official response from the UCI before we can allow him to race again. Once we know something we can make a decision, keeping in mind that he still has a year of contract remaining with Saunier Duval". Good to hear that he's still very much in the team's plans, but I'm afraid that "obtaining an official response from the UCI" might be another few weeks away.