Astana thrown out of MPCC

PARIS (AP) Astana has been thrown out of the Movement for Credible Cycling for a breach of the group's regulations.

The Kazakh-funded outfit was excluded from the group of teams - which holds to stricter anti-doping measures than those of cycling's governing body - after letting one of its riders enter this year's Tour de France despite an abnormal cortisol reading.

Pre-race tests on Dutch cyclist Lars Boom in July showed a low cortisol level, which can indicate cortisone doping but is not conclusive proof of doping. Astana should have removed Boom from the Tour to comply with the umbrella group's policy but decided to keep him in the race.

MPCC said the group met with Astana representative Dmitriy Fofonov before its board of directors decided to exclude the team.