STUTTGART, Germany — The world cycling federation lost its case Wednesday to exclude Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde from the world championships.
"We will now accept the decision," International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid said after the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The UCI had attempted to ban Valverde from competing in Sunday's road race because of his alleged links to the Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal in Spain.
The Spanish cycling federation had threatened to pull out of the world championships unless the UCI lifted its ban. The two sides agreed to take the case to CAS for a final ruling.
Previously, the UCI had asked the Spanish federation to open disciplinary proceedings against Valverde after discovering new evidence in a 6,000-page Operation Puerto file linking him to the scandal. The Spanish federation said it reviewed the document but found no new evidence.