Judge Refuses To Release Valverde Blood Sample

 A Spanish judge rejected a request from Italian anti-doping authorities on Wednesday to hand over a blood sample they want to test as part of an investigation into cyclist Alejandro Valverde.

Spaniard Valverde, 28, has been summoned to appear before the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on Thursday to discuss a possible violation of anti-doping rules.

CONI had asked for blood samples from Spain's Operation Puerto probe but the court said CONI did not have the required judicial mandate to investigate, and it could not hand over evidence it was using in a separate case.

"Although the organism (CONI) says in its communications it is the office for the anti-doping authorities, it is not an organisation directly linked to the Italian Ministry of Culture and therefore not linked to the Italian justice system," the decree from Madrid's Supreme Court said.

"In the same decree the court ... has expressly banned the use of evidence obtained in the committing of one crime for the investigation of other crimes, as is the case referred to with Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde."

Doping is not a criminal offence in Spain, however those who supply banned substances can be tried for a violation of public health. If found guilty of a doping offence, Valverde could face a two-year ban.

PUERTO AFFAIR

The Caisse D'Epargne rider, who topped the world rankings last year, competed in the 2007 world championships despite the UCI governing body trying to block his participation because he had been linked to the Puerto drugs scandal.

Italian media said samples Valverde gave at a doping control when last year's Tour de France entered Italy for a stage had matched DNA from files of the Puerto case.

The Spanish rider said he did not test positive during last year's Tour de France.

Spain launched Operation Puerto in 2006 after raids at addresses in Madrid and Zaragoza uncovered anabolic steroids, blood transfusion equipment and more than 200 code-named blood bags, some of which were linked to leading cyclists.

Police listed more than 50 riders implicated in the affair including former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, Tour of Spain winner Roberto Heras and Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso.