Miguel Angel Lopez announced that he has filed a lawsuit against his former team, Astana Cazacustan, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming wrongful termination after he was fired for his alleged relationship with the doctor at the center of a doping investigation.

Lopez was fired by Astana in December for "violating internal rules" and for his "probable connection" to Marcos Maynar, a doctor arrested in the "Operación Ilex" investigation by Spanish police.

Lopez, who was on the podium at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, pleaded innocence at the time, but now admits that he has initiated legal action against his old employers.

"The Colombian is relying on a team of lawyers specializing in sports law and will take his case to the Swiss Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming that no motive exists for withdrawing from his contract with the Kazakhstan team," a statement released by Lopez on Thursday reads.

Lopez reiterated that he has never failed a doping test, that he has a valid UCI racing license, and stressed that he is not a party being investigated by Operación Ilex.

"It is Vicente Verda Garcia who is being investigated," the statement noted, referring to Soinier of Astana. According to Lopez's statement, Verda is "the person who allegedly received the drugs from Dr. Maynar."

The statement also claimed that the UCI "blocked" Astana's bank guarantee of €1.7 million. Bank guarantees are a prerequisite for all applicants for a World Tour license each year and are originally intended to address such situations, but Lopez apparently used this as a precursor to a successful court case.

"The cleanliness and transparency in the Colombian climber's doping controls, and the UCI's response, point to a quick clarification of the facts and Miguel Angel's return in the near future.

Cycling News contacted the UCI to see if the UCI had taken any action to access Astana's bank guarantee.

Lopez reiterated his desire to return to the top level of the sport and hopes that a successful appeal to CAS will clear his name and clear his path to the World Tour.

The 29-year-old Colombian, who has spent his entire career in Astana with the exception of 2021, which he spent at the ill-fated Movistar, will return to the continental scene in his native country in 2023. With Medellín-EPM, he has started the season well, winning the overall at the Vuelta a San Juan and competing against top-level international opponents.

"His value is not in doubt among the big teams, but his dismissal from the Kazakh team makes it difficult for him to join other World Tour teams.

"For the time being, Miguel Angel Lopez remains motivated to keep his guard up and is preparing for his next races (Pan American, Tour of Turkey, Tour of Greece).