PARIS, March 28, 2012 (AFP) – Russia’s two-time world road race silver
medalist Alexandr Kolobnev re-signed for Katusha on Wednesday three months
after being released by the team.
The 30-year-old’s future was cast into doubt when he was forced to quit
last year’s Tour de France after testing positive for a diuretic but received
only a fine and a warning and was not suspended by his federation.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rubber stamped this decision last
month paving the way for him to once again race and a return to his old team.
“I have been through a dark time,” said the rider.
“Now, it is behind me. I would like to thank the Russian Federation and its
president Igor Makarov for their support.”
Aside from his two world silver medals in 2007 and 2009 Kolobnev has also
finished third in the 2009 Tour of Lombardy and second in the 2010
Liege-Bastogne-Liege one day classics.