BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish cyclist Roberto Heras has been retroactively cleared of a two-year doping ban imposed in 2006.
The Spanish cycling federation banned Heras after he tested positive for the illegal substance EPO in the second-to-last stage of the 2005 Vuelta, annulling what would have been his record fourth straight win.
But a court ruled Friday that the Spanish Council for Sports Discipline had no jurisdiction over the appeal and overturned the ban because of irregularities in the investigation.
The federation said it will appeal the ruling. It has 10 days to do so. Heras retired after serving the ban.
Heras won the Vuelta from 2002-04 and was a teammate of American cyclist Lance Armstrong from 2001-03.
