The last thing cycling needs is another storm of controversy on the subject of doping.
But recent positive tests for members of the high-profile Astana team, which counts reigning Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali among its riders, have cast a renewed shadow over the sport.
Two riders, brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy failed dope tests for EPO in August, with other riders from the team also testing positive for banned substances.
We were joined on the line by cycling journalist Jeremy Whittle to talk about the case in detail as well as its implications.
"The whole history of Astana is littered with suspicion and doubt because the team, going back to the days of Alexander Vinokourov who is currently their team manager, when he was riding had a series of doping scandals," said Whittle, who added that Vinokourov showed little remorse after his own ban.
But will the team be allowed to compete in the Tour de France next year?
"I'd hope they would take a sabbatical of some length of time because they've had other opportunities before to sort out their act. This is nothing new. This is a team that have got form going back a long, long time. For them to escape again or have a stay of execution, would just be a sham."
Whittle also called on the Union Cycliste International (UCI) to act strongly, while he also spoke about the prospect of Nibali leaving Astana because of the scandal involving some of his team-mates.
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