Fränk Schleck was looking serious at the presentation of the Tour de France in Liège (Image credit: AFP)
An unhappy Frank Schleck during the Giro d'Italia(Image credit: AFP)
Frank Schleck pores over the map with Philippe Maertens.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency (Alad) has accepted the one-year ban given to Fränk Schleck by the Disciplinary Board. The UCI and Schleck both still have the option to appeal the decision set down on January 30.
“After the expiration of the 21 day period and because of the reasons given in the Disciplinary Board's decision, the Board of Directors of Alad has decided not to appeal the decision,” according to an Alad press release issued Monday morning.
An Alad spokeswoman told Cyclingnews that the Disciplinary Board is a totally independent tribunal. The Alad acts as prosecutor before the Board, and thus has the right to appeal its decisions.
His ban runs through July 14, 2013, which means he will not be able to ride the Tour. When the ban was issued, Schleck said, “We will now analyse the decision in detail and decide on potential further steps. However I bear a positive aspect of the decision in mind: the judges acknowledged that I am not a cheater.”
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