The lawyer for Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) has formally asked the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) to move his hearing scheduled for Wednesday to Friday.
According to Valverde’s attorney Federico Cecconi, the rider will not be present on Wednesday in Rome. Initially the hearing was scheduled for Monday, but it was postponed until Wednesday at Valverde’s request. Now it appears the case will be heard on Friday.
Cecconi has a reputation for being the best lawyer in Italy when it comes to doping offenses. In many cases he has won or gotten reduced bans for his clients.
When the Tour de France passed through Italy in 2008 Valverde underwent a doping control on the rest day. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, CONI took the opportunity to compare the blood of Valverde with a blood bag found in the Operation Puerto investigation involving doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. The DNA analysis is said to confirm that Valverde was a client of Fuentes.
Valverde continues to deny his involvement in the case.