Rasmussen gets 18-month drugs ban

PARIS – Denmark’s four-time track cycling world champion Alex Rasmussen was on Wednesday handed an 18-month ban for missing two out-of-competition doping controls. The punishment was announced in a statement by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS acted on an appeal by cycling’s governing body the UCI against an initial decision by Denmark’s cycling federation to acquit the rider on the basis of what they perceived as a procedural mistake made by the UCI. The UCI had called for the cyclist to receive a two-year ban after he had missed tow tests. — AFP