The UCI has expressed its surprise and astonishment at the Kazakh cycling federation's decision to ban Alexander Vinokourov for only one year for blood doping.

Thursday's ruling paves the way for the disgraced Kazakh cyclist to compete at the Beijing Olympics, as his suspension runs up to July 2008, the month before the games start.

In explaining how the Kazakh federation arrived at its decision, vice president Nikolay Proskurin said: "Documents and evidence presented by Vinokourov and his lawyers were not convincing. We decided to disqualify him for a year.”

Proskurin added: "I think that should he want to, Vinokourov will be able to take part in the Olympic Games in Beijing."

UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told AFP that cycling’s governing body considered the ban too lenient.

"We are very astonished and surprised. We're asking ourselves how the Kazakh federation could come to such a punishment," he said.

UCI president Pat McQuaid was also surprised by the light sentence, telling The Associated Press, "Normally for such a violation the ... ban is two years."

Both said the UCI was studying the ruling and considering a challenge before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Vinokourov was excluded from this year's Tour de France following his positive test for blood doping. He was sacked by his Kazakh-based, Swiss-registered team Astana following the positive test, which consequently led to the prompt withdrawal of the whole team from the Tour.

Vinokourov’s lawyer, Maurice Suh, said his client “continues to assert his innocence of any violation of the anti-doping rules of the UCI."

"Mr. Vinokourov looks forward to the end of his suspension and to the opportunity to begin returning to racing once his suspension is completed," Suh added.

Klöden sticks with Astana
German cyclist Andreas Klöden, who finished second in the 2004 and 2006 Tours de France, announced on Thursday he will stay with the Astana team.

The 32-year-old was forced out of this year's Tour when Astana withdrew from the race after team captain Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping during this year's race.

"Having reflected on the situation and spoken to other teams, I have decided to remain for one year more at Astana," said Klöden on his website. "I am content that uncertainties have now been resolved and I will devote myself to my profession. The quality of the team and its attitude has led to this decision.”

Klöden joined Astana after leaving T-Mobile in 2006.

The Astana team, sponsored by a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan, has set up a strict anti-doping program.

It also has recruited Spaniard Alberto Contador, who won this year's Tour, and American Levi Leipheimer.

In spite of Contador's arrival, Klöden insists his main objective is to win next summer's Tour.

Former Olympic champ was informer for East German secret police
Former Olympic cycling champion Jan Schur has disclosed that he was an informer for communist East Germany's secret police for seven years.

The 45-year-old, who won gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in the team time trial and went on to have a career as a professional cyclist from 1990 to 1994, told a newspaper in his home city of Leipzig that he was an informer for the State Security Service (Stasi) from 1982 to 1989, when it was disbanded in 1989 following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

"During the first two or three meetings with Stasi agents, it became clear to me that it was not just about my visits to other countries," said Schur. "I was being pumped for information about other athletes and that I should denounce anyone who was not behaving appropriately.

"It was embarrassing for me. I did not know why they came to me."

Schur is not the first high-profile former athlete from East Germany to admit Stasi links. Olympic long jump gold medalist Heike Drechsler was accused of having links to the secret police.