TORRE PACHECO (Spain), Sept 15: Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde said on Saturday that he was continuing to train for this month’s World Championships despite being banned from the event by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

The Caisse D’Epargne cyclist, who the Spanish federation (RFEC) has proceeded to enter for the championships, was visiting his team mates riding in the Tour of Spain when the race came to his home region of Murcia.

He said in a team press release that he was “still training for four or five hours a day in preparation for the world championships. My condition’s improving.”

Valverde has finished second, third and fourth in the Tour of Spain in previous years but opted not to ride this time so he could focus on the worlds starting in Suttgart on Sept. 26.

In early September, the UCI banned Valverde from the championships because of his possible implication in the Operacion Puerto anti-doping investigation.

But the Spanish Cycling Federation (SCF) and government-run Spanish Sports Council have expressed their support for Valverde, who denies being involved in doping practices.

The SCF refused to open disciplinary proceedings against the rider when asked to by the UCI. “Their (the UCI’s) position surprises me and I do not want to say anything about the subject,” said Valverde, who has won two silvers and a bronze at previous worlds.—Reuters