CAS to examine alleged blood doping by Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde over 2 court cases

CAS sets dates to hear 2 Valverde doping cases

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde will face two court hearings over allegations he used blood-doping methods.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday it would hear the cases on Jan. 12-14 and March 18-21.

In the first, Valverde will challenge a two-year ban imposed by Italy’s Olympic Committee that prevents him riding there.

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, and the World Anti-Doping Agency want that ban extended worldwide and have joined that case.

The UCI and WADA have appealed to CAS in the second case because the Spanish cycling federation refused to discipline Valverde.

The cases center on Valverde’s alleged doping connections to a Madrid clinic raided in the long-running Operation Puerto probe.