Swiss court re-imposes Hondo ban

The Swiss Supreme Court has dismissed Danilo Hondo's appeal of his two-year ban, WADA has announced. WADA said that it was informed on January 12th of the action. The Court of Arbitration of Sport had imposed the sentence after Hondo tested positive in 2005 for the banned substance Carphedon. The Court has not yet released its reasons for the ruling.

Hondo, who is with the Tinkoff Credit Team, will now be unable to ride until April 1. In response to the decision, Hondo said, "Unfortunately the Swiss Court decide exactly opposite of what I had hoped. I am disappointed that after this long struggle I have not received confirmation of my innocence, but I am looking positively to the future."

"My new goal is now April 1, because my suspension ends on March 31. I am working 110 % towards that. As they say, in court and on the high seas we are all in God's hands. The leaders of my new team are a little disappointed, too, but that they knew from the beginning that this might happen. It won't affect my situation with the team, it just means that the date for my first race will be pushed back a little."