Madrid - Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde on Tuesday filed a complaint against the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in his fight against a doping ban.

Valverde's management said his lawyers have brought the case before Spanish justice authorities, saying that the CONI made use of unlawfully acquired evidence.

The Caisse d'Epargne rider was two weeks ago banned for two years by a CONI anti-doping tribunal which implicated him in connection with the Operation Puerto doping probe centring on Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

The ban applies only for races in Italy, but it could be expanded to the Tour de France, of which one stage runs through Italy, and possibly other events. The CONI ruling received the support of WADA.

Valverde disputes the ban, saying he should have been heard in Spain that CONI violated a Madrid court ruling which prohibited the Italians from using Operation Puerto evidence.

The CONI said it was in possession of DNA evidence and documents linking Valverde to Fuentes. (dpa)