Valverde appeals suspension to CAS

Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde appealed his suspension to The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which confirmed receipt of the appeal on Friday.

The National Anti-doping Tribunal of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) imposed the two-year sanction on Valverde on May 11 in response to his alleged involvement in the Operación Puerto affair and the fact that samples taken from him after stage 14 of last year's Tour de France matched one of those found in the clinic of disgraced Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. CONI had cited grounds that Valverde had violated UCI anti-doping regulations.

Valverde made two points in his appeal. First, he stated that CONI has no jurisdiction. Second, he asked to be exonerated of any sanction and to have the matter terminated.

Since the suspension was issued, Valverde has continued to race outside of Italy. He recently won the overall classification at the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, which wrapped up on June 14.

CAS intends to consult with both parties as the next step in the procedure.