The International Cycling Union says it wants the licencing commission to strip the Astana team of their elite status after an investigation into doping.
Astana, whose team includes Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali, were only granted their World Tour licence for 2015 "under probation".
Vincenzo Nibali on the podium after winning stage two of the Tour, 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
But on Saturday, the UCI released a statement saying it wanted the licence withdrawn after finishing a review of an audit on the Astana team that was produced by the Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL).
The World Tour licence guarantees its holder direct participation in the top races, including the Tour de France, the Paris-Roubaix classic and the Giro d'Italia.
Several Astana riders failed dope tests last season.
The UCI agreed to grant the team a licence but only on the condition that it underwent an independent audit.
the UCI says the audit has revealed a big difference between the policies and structures that the team presented to the Licence Commission in December and the reality on the ground.
