Doping-banned Valverde ruled out of Movistar presentation

Spanish cycling team Movistar on Tuesday suspended an event in Madrid at which Alejandro Valverde was due to model the 2012 jersey after the International Cycling Union essentially vetoed the rider's appearance. Valverde is serving a two-year ban from competition ending on January 1, 2012, for his implication in the Operation Puerto doping ring.

The ICU cited article 320 of its regulations, which bars suspended athletes from any type of event or activity organized by any entity or team inscribed with the ICU. "It is an interpretation of an international rule that we are in complete disagreement with," said Movistar in a statement. "But we find ourselves obliged to comply due to the sanctions that could be imposed."

Among these is the prospect that Valverde, who has a contract with Movistar to race next year, could be forced to restart his ban.

The defense team of Alberto Contador, who from next Monday will attend a hearing into alleged doping at last year's Tour de France at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, on Tuesday announced it would be discarding two witnesses for the case: Contador's teammate Jesús Hernández and a Civil Guard officer from the Seprona nature protection unit.

The officer, a specialist in illegal farming practices, was to relate his experience in investigating the use of steroids to fatten up livestock. Contador returned a positive clenbuterol sample, which he attributed to tainted meat.