Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde (Team Caisse d'Epargne) has lost his appeal against a two-year doping ban from racing in Italy.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Tuesday that Italy's Olympic committee was allowed to suspend Valverde using evidence seized by Spanish police in 2006 in the Operation Puerto investigation.

The Italian body banned Valverde last May after it matched DNA evidence from a Madrid clinic allegedly involved in an athletes' blood-doping ring with his blood sample taken when the 2008 Tour de France crossed into Italy.

Valverde appealed to CAS that the Italians had no legal right to judge him, and should not use Spanish evidence.

The 2009 Spanish Vuelta champion can still race outside Italy. Happy riding.