Valverde appeals to CAS
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jun. 19, 2009
- Updated Jun. 19, 2009 at 8:49 PM UTC
Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde has appealed his doping ban imposed by Italian authorities last month to the world sport’s top court said on Friday.
The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) last month banned Valverde from racing
in Italy for two years due to his alleged involvement in the Operation Puerto
blood doping scandal, thereby ruling him out of the Tour de France, which this
year passes through Italy’s Val D’Aosta region on July 21.
Valverde called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to “exonerate
him of any sanction and to terminate this matter” and “state that CONI had no
jurisdiction,” CAS said in a statement.
Lausanne-based CAS said it would be consulting the different parties
involved before it sets out a calendar for the procedure “as soon as possible.”
Normally an arbitration court panel takes about four months to issue a ruling, but it can accelerate the process in special circumstances.
Valverde faces a worldwide two-year ban if cycling’s world ruling body the
International Cycling Union (UCI) acts upon evidence yet to be delivered by
CONI about his alleged involvement in the Operation Puerto case.
The Spaniard, who won the Dauphine Libere stage race on Sunday, had already
declared his intention to take his case to CAS, declaring himself “outraged” by CONI’s decision on May 11.
Valverde’s case is complicated by the fact that he has been suspended by an
authority to which he does not directly answer.
The UCI, the only organization with the power to extend the ban to affect all professional races, is studying CONI’s files and is expected to make a statement next week.