Valverde’s Italian suspension held up

World ban likely to follow.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Alejandro Valverde’s appeal against his ban to race in Italy today. The CAS held that the decision taken by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) was correct according to the Italian anti-doping law and the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping rules. As a result, Valverde will be suspended from racing in Italy until May 10, 2011.

Now for Valverde for the road is uphill. Thursday, also in Lausanne, proceedings will be opened by the UCI and WADA against Valverde and the Spanish cycling federation. For this round, the CAS arbitrators will address the request of the UCI and WADA to extend Italy’s ban to the whole world.

The successful dismissal of Valverde’s appeal opens the door for further Italian action against athletes involved in Operacion Puerto, and not judged by Spain’s sporting bodies.

Tags: Alejandro Valverde, CONI, Court of Arbitration for Sport, cycling, Italian National Olympic Committee, Italy, Spanish Cycling Federation, UCI, WADA