Monaco to decide on Rasmussen sanction

Dane Michael Rasmussen, who was removed from the 2007 Tour de France while wearing the yellow jersey for having falsified information on his whereabouts prior to that race, could face an official sanction from the Monaco Cycling Federation (FMC) on Tuesday.

Rasmussen was heard by the FMC, which issued his racing license, on May 28, according to AFP, "We handled the four alleged infractions on a case by case basis. It was a difficult matter, dense, and the UCI regulation is not simple," said Daniel Bottero, the president of the hearings commission of the FMC.

"We have handed over our judgment [Thursday] to the federation of Monaco, who has promised the International Cycling Union (UCI) to give its decision on Tuesday at the latest," Bottero told AFP.

Rasmussen was removed from the Tour on July 25, 2007 by his Rabobank team. The Dane had received warnings for incorrect whereabouts information several times by the UCI, but in the final case was found to have told the cycling body that he was in Mexico while witnesses saw him training in Italy.

Rasmussen is currently suing his former Rabobank team for wrongful dismissal, and claims his team knew his exact location during last June. The decision in that suit is due next week.

If the FMC decides that the Dane had given false information three times within an 18 month period, he could be given a two-year suspension.