Astarloza gets off cheap

Mikel Astarloza has got his fine for doping at the 2009 Tour de France reduced, El País reports.

The winner of that year's stage 16 to Bourg-Saint-Maurice was originally handed a huge 267 000-euro fine by the UCI - in keeping with the governing body's rules that stipulate a sanctioned rider must pay back 70 percent of a year's salary. The Spanish Cycling Federation was kinder on the Pasajes-native however, saying 154 ooo euros would do it. The Court of Arbitration for Sport yesterday confirmed that Astarloza would have to pay 154 ooo euros, not 267 000.

The CAS highlighted a professional cyclist's high tax rate as the main reason his fine was slashed.