January 13, 2005 – German cyclist Danilo Hondo was barred for two years for doping and denied in his attempt to have the ban annulled. Earlier this week the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal from cycling’s governing body and the World Anti-Doping Agency against Hondo’s original ban, which they said was too light.

Swiss Olympic, Switzerland’s sports disciplinary body, banned Hondo for two years in June for twice testing positive for the stimulant carphedon during the Tour of Murcia, where he won two stages. But that ban would have allowed Hondo to start racing again in 2006 on probation.

Hondo was fired last year from Swiss team Gerolsteiner but denied knowingly taking the stimulant. The court said the work by the lab in Madrid, Spain, ”could not be called into question” and the presence of carphedon in Hondo’s urine was ”clearly established.”

Hondo will appeal the decision in civil court and will continue training in the hopes of salvaging his career.