The Swiss Court of Civil Rights has denied Alejandro Valverde's appeal of his ba🐼n from racing in Italy. The court ruled that Valverde's appeal of the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to enforce the two-year ban was made too early, before the CAS verdict had been issued.

Valverde must now re-file th🅷e complaint to the Swiss court for consider✱ation.

The Italian Olympic Committee issued the ban against Valverde after matching his DNA to blood taken into custody during Operación Puerto. Valverde appealed that decis💜ion to the CAS, which upheld the ban.

The Caisse d'Epargne rider further appealed that decision in the Swiss civil court system. He claimed that one of✱ the arbitrators on the panel, Ulrich Hess, was not neutral because he had worked for the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Valverde is currently p🧔rohibited from⛄ riding in Italy until May 10, 2011.

The International Cycling Union is seeking to extend his 🌳ban worldwide.