UCI appeals to court of arbitration for sport over Roman Kreuziger ban

Tinkoff-Saxo rider cleared by Czech Olympic Committee
UCI has requested a ban of up to four years
Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger was forced to miss the Tour de France due to possible irregularities in his biological passport. Photograph: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

The International Cycling Union has appealed to the court of arbitration for sport (CAS) after Roman Kreuziger was cleared of a doping violation by the Czech Olympic Committee.

“CAS has initiated a procedure following the appeal filed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) against the Czech cyclist Roman Kreuziger, the Czech Cycling Federation and the Czech Olympic Committee,” CAS said in a statement, adding that the UCI was requesting a ban of up to four years.

Last month, the Czech Olympic Committee cleared the Tinkoff-Saxo rider of any wrongdoing after Kreuziger had been provisionally suspended by his team because of possible irregularities in his biological passport.

The data in question is from a period when Kreuziger, a team-mate of Spain’s Alberto Contador and fifth in the 2013 Tour de France, was riding for the Astana team.

Kreuziger was pulled from his team, although not technically suspended, in June, meaning he missed the Tour.

The UCI had decided to ban him provisionally in August pending the Czech Committee’s ruling.