Rebellin and Schumacher appeal against failed Olympic dope tests

Cyclists Stefan Schumacher and Davide Rebellin are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have their disqualifications from the Beijing Olympics following positive tests for CERA rescinded.

Both have protested their innocence ever since the positive results, in both cases ascertained following retesting of the original samples, were revealed earlier this year.

Rebellin finished second in the Olympic road race behind Spain’s Samuel Sanchez, but has since been stripped of his silver medal, which now goes to Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara.

However, as we reported last month, the Italian has vowed to fight all the way to hang on to his silver medal and escape an anticipated two-year ban from the sport.

Meanwhile, in October, Schumacher lost an appeal to France’s highest court to have his two-year ban from racing in the country, imposed after he tested positive for CERA during the 2008 Tour de France, overturned.

The German had won both individual time trials during the Tour, but 2008 Tour de France, finished a disappointing 13th in the event at Beijing, which took place before samples taken from him at the Tour were retested, leading to discovery of the banned substance.

The pair are among five athletes across all disciplines who failed drugs tests following the retesting of samples taken at the Beijing games, and the CAS said on its website that it expects to make a decision on their appeals within four months.