PARIS: Denmark’s four-time track cycling world champion Alex Rasmussen was yesterday handed an 18 month ban for missing two out-of-competition doping controls.
The punishment was announced in a statement by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
CAS acted on an appeal by cycling’s governing body the UCI against an initial decision by Denmark’s cycling federation to acquit the rider on the basis of what they perceived as a procedural mistake made by the UCI.
The UCI had called for the cyclist to receive a two-year ban after he had missed tow tests and failed to give sufficient details about his whereabouts for a third control.
CAS upheld the UCI’s appeal, maintaining that its procedural error relating to a delay in communication had no bearing on the fact that the 28-year-old rider had missed a control.
Rasmussen won four world titles before turning professional and joining the Saxo Bank team.
He switched to HTC-Colombia in 2011 but was sacked by them after missing one of the tests.
Rasmussen joined the Garmin outfit last August and competed in this year’s Tour of Italy.
Rasmussen banned 18 month for doping
