Spanish cyclists Vila and Ventoso challenge doping bans at Court of Arbitration for Sport

2 Spanish cyclists challenge doping bans at CAS

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Two Spanish cyclists banned for doping have filed appeals with sport’s highest court to overturn their suspensions.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday that Patxi Vila and Francisco Ventoso are seeking to annul sanctions imposed by Spain’s cycling federation.

The CAS said it expected to rule on the appeals within four months.

Vila was suspended for two years after testing positive for testosterone in an out-of-competition control at his home in March 2008.

Ventoso, who won a stage of the Spanish Vuelta in 2006, was given a nine-month ban after a positive test for furosemide in an out-of-competition control a year ago.

Furosemide is a diuretic banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a masking agent.