A prosecutor in a case against Alexandre Vinokourov and Alexandr Kolobnev over allegedly fixing the result of the 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege has sought six months in jail for both.
The court is expected to announce its verdict and penalty, if any, on October 8th.
To date no negative finding has been made against either man and they have strongly denied any corruption relating to how the race finished.
It is alleged that when Vinokourov was in a breakaway
with Kolobnev he offered him €150,000 to let him win the race.
It is further alleged that Kolobnev accepted and that the
money was later paid to the Russian by Vinokourov.
Both riders have always denied the allegation and Vinokourov
has said while money was paid by him to Kolobnev, the sum related to a property
investment between the two men and not a bribe linked to the race.
Advertisement
Yesterday, a court on Liege, where the case is being heard, confirmed it would deliver its verdict next month.
Prosecutors in the case have requested the court consider jail terms of up to six months for both men; a sentencing suggestion at this point rather than a verdict.
Related News
The prosecutors have also asked that Vinokourov pay a
fine of €100,000 and Kolobnev pay a fine of €50,000.
However, whether the court will find against the men, and what penalty may be handed down in the event of a negative finding, has not yet been decided.
The allegations first emerged in the Swiss media eight years ago.
During an anti doping inquiry related to doping doctor Michele Ferrari, emails uncovered appeared to show a money transfer from Vinokourov to Kolobnev.
However, Vinokourov has said the money was paid as an
investment by him in a property company owned by Kolobnev.
Vinokourov is still the team principal with WorldTour
outfit Astana and won an age-related Ironman world title last weekend.
He was banned for blood doping in 2007, serving a
two-year ban before making a return to the sport that included an Olympic road
race title win in London 2012.
He won the 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege by six seconds from Kolobnev,
with the next riders well over one minute behind.
Topics
