Spain's Superior Council of Sports (CSD) claimed it has jurisdiction on the doping case against Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. It reacted yesterday to the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) request for a two-year suspension due to the 28-year-old's alleged ties to Operación Puerto.
The sports council stated that the Puerto investigation ran under the authority and jurisdiction of Spanish courts. It claimed that Spain should be the country to preside over a "trial in the near future."
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Ettore Torri, Italy's anti-doping prosecutor, met with Valverde on February 19 based on his possible links to the 2006 doping investigation. Italian investigators collected DNA evidence to link the cyclist to blood bags seized in Spanish Guardia Civil raids.
Torri sent his recommendation of a two-year to the Italian anti-doping tribunal Wednesday. If accepted, Valverde could not race on Italian soil – it includes the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France (which passes through Italy this year).
