Rome  - Spanish cycling star Alejandro Valverde has been summoned by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) in a new doping investigation linking the rider to the Operation Puerto affair.

CONI said on its website Wednesday that Valverde has been summoned to a hearing for Monday.

Italian media reports said DNA tests on blood samples taken from the rider last July match blood samples seized by police from the laboratory of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

More than 50 cyclists were believed to be clients of Fuentes, who was accused of running a doping network, in the Operation Puerto investigation.

Earlier this year Spanish judicial authorities reopened the investigation which followed raids in May 2006 in which police found large quantities of anabolic steroids, equipment used for blood transfusions and more than 200 bags of blood.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on its homepage that CONI had sent its latest findings to the international cycling federation UCI and WADA, the world anti-doping agency.

The summons relates to a control by CONI in which blood tests were made on 21 riders including Valverde after a Tour de France stage in Italy on July 21. Follow-up DNA tests have now matched blood samples seized during Operation Puerto, it was reported.

In a statement released by Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team, the rider said: "All I can do is express my surprise and indignation over what has been published in the Italian media."

He said it was certain that the results from the controls in Italy "returned no abnormal levels."

Valverde said he was also prepared to open legal proceedings because of damage to his image.

"I'd already made it known on several occasions that I was available to compare blood levels with any evidence admitted to legal proceedings, provided that I am demanded by a court of law," he said.

Two-time ProTour winner Valverde, as well as fellow Spaniard Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour de France winner, who won both the Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta last year, had been implicated in the Puerto investigation, but have always denied any involvement. (dpa)