Team granted World Tour licence by UCI

Vincenzo Nibali will be free to defend his Tour de France title in Astana colours after the Kazakh team were granted their World Tour licence.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed on Thursday that their licence commission had suspended an investigation into doping allegations, thus allowing Astana to compete in cycling's biggest races.

Proceedings were opened against the team after Artur Fedoseyev, Ilya Davidenok, Viktor Okishev and Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy all returned positive samples late last year.

Yet Astana will be allowed to race on, albeit under strict conditions set by the Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL).

"The team committed to respecting all the measures recommended by ISSUL," a statement read on Thursday. "At the end of the hearing, the licence commission announced the suspension of the proceedings.

"In the meantime, the registration for the 2015 season remains in force.

"However, the team's licence is subject to strict monitoring of the conditions laid down. This monitoring will be carried out on the basis of reports transmitted by ISSUL to the licence commission.

"The licence commission shall be able to re-open the proceedings if Astana Pro Team fails to respect one or several of the conditions imposed, or if new elements arise."

Fabio Aru and Mikel Landa will lead Astana at the Giro d'Italia next month, before Nibali assumes control as he looks to win back-to-back yellow jerseys at the Tour in July.