UCI to appeal doping verdict in Zabelinskaya case

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) Cycling's world governing body has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Russian Olympic medalist Olga Zabelinskaya was cleared of doping.

Zabelinskaya tested positive for the banned stimulant octopamine in early 2014 but procedural delays dogged the case until the Russian Cycling Federation cleared her last month.

The UCI says in an e-mailed statement that it filed an appeal with CAS on Dec. 16. The UCI declined to comment further, citing ongoing proceedings.

Zabelinskaya won bronze medals in the road race and time trial at the 2012 London Olympics. She is not listed as provisionally suspended on the UCI website, which in theory leaves her free to compete, although she does not appear to have raced after being cleared.

Russian cycling has long had a problem with doping, including a ban for track racer Viktoria Baranova at the 2012 Olympics.