Cycling: The Rabobank cycling team has been told to pay Michael Rasmussen €670,000 in compensation, according to reports in Denmark.
The Danish cyclist, who was given two-year ban last night for missing anti-doping tests ahead of last year's Tour, was sacked by the team during last year's Tour de France after claims he had "lied about his whereabouts" in the period leading up to the race.
The 34-year-old missed three anti-doping tests during the period in question.
Rasmussen had been asking for €5.5million from the Dutch-based team for unfair dismissal during a court hearing in Utrecht today.
The Dane had been leading the 2007 Tour de France when he was withdrawn and then sacked by Rabobank with just four stages remaining.
A statement on the Danish Cycling Union's official website, www.cyclingworld.dk, confirmed the 34-year-old was banned by the Monaco Cycling Federation, which issued his racing licence and had been deliberating the matter since a hearing on May 28th.
Rasmussen's suspension is likely to be retroactive to July 25th, 2007.
The rider can appeal against yesterday's verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, the same body which upheld Floyd Landis' two-year suspension for doping offences on Monday.