Ricco bids to reduce suspension

Ricco won two stages of the 2008 Tour but tested positive for CERA

Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to reduce his two-year suspension.

Ricco was banned last month after testing positive for a version EPO at this year's Tour de France.

Ricco, 25, named the doctor who gave him the banned substance and another rider in the hope of a reduced ban.

A decision on the appeal is expected within four months. If it fails, Ricco will remain banned until July 2010.

The anti-doping tribunal of the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI) reached a decision to ban Ricco on 2 October, after he tested positive for CERA, a third generation version of EPO.

A statement released by CAS on Monday read: "The athlete requests the reduction of the suspension on the basis of his collaboration with the authorities in this matter.

"The directions with respect to the arbitration procedure will be issued later on by the tribunal in accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

"As a general rule, CAS delivers its decisions within four months from the filing of the appeal."

Ricco won two stages on the Tour, the second with a spectacular finish on one of the toughest mountain climbs.

His two-year punishment covered 18 months for doping at the Tour and six months for seeing a physician who had already been banned for doping violations.

The ban was more severe than expected - Ricco's advisors had hoped for a 20-month sentence following the rider's admission of guilt.

After the October hearing, Ricco declared himself "very disappointed and bitter", adding he had "expected better understanding" from the tribunal.