Rasmussen loses appeal

Switzerland - Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen has lost his appeal against a two-year ban for avoiding drug tests.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday upheld a decision by the Monaco Cycling Federation last June to suspend the 34-year-old rider's racing license.

Rasmussen is banned until July 25 and cannot race in this year's Tour de France, which begins July 4.

The ban started the day the Rabobank team removed Rasmussen from the 2007 Tour when he was leading the overall race. The team said Rasmussen lied about his whereabouts when he missed pre-race doping tests.

Rasmussen acknowledged he lied when telling cycling's governing body, the UCI, he had been in Mexico.

Rasmussen said his team knew he was actually in Italy and France.