UCI and CAS to appeal Kreuziger verdict

Cycling's governing body is preparing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Czech rider Roman Kreuziger was cleared of doping violations by his national Olympic committee.

"After reviewing the full case file, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), joined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has decided to appeal the Czech Olympic Committee hearing panel's decision to acquit Roman Kreuziger following anomalies that were found in the rider's Athlete Biological Passport (ABP)," the world governing body announced on its website.

:Having carefully considered the decision, the UCI and WADA are filing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with the request that consideration be given to a sanction for Kreuziger that is fully compliant with the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code.

"In order to fully respect the integrity of the legal process, the UCI and WADA will refrain from commenting further until the appeal has been completed and a decision rendered by CAS.

The Czech Olympic Committee ruled last month that anomalies in Kreuziger's biological passport dating to 2011-12 did not break any limits.

Tinkoff-Saxo rider Kreuziger was dropped by his team ahead of the Tour de France because of the ongoing case, and then provisionally suspended by UCI in August after the team decided to reinstate him for the Tour of Poland.