AG2R's team rider Tadej Valjavec of Slovenia smiles after putting on the leader's jersey after the fourth stage of the Tour de Suisse cycling race in Staefa in this June 16, 2009 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - Slovenian rider Tadej Valjavec has been banned for two years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Friday that his biological passport showed he had manipulated his blood.

Biological passports were introduced by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in 2008 to track any blood changes in riders against an original profile.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled on the appeal of the International Cycling Union against the decision of the Senate of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia (OCS) regarding the Slovenian cyclist Tadej Valjavec," CAS said in a statement.

"The CAS has set aside the decision of the OCS to exonerate the athlete from any doping offence and has imposed a two-year ban on him starting on 20 January 2011.

"The CAS found that anti-doping tests performed in April and August 2009 revealed abnormalities in the context of the athlete's biological passport to a degree which was entirely consistent with blood manipulation."

Last month, CAS over-ruled the Italian National Committee's decision to clear Franco Pellizotti in a similar case.

"The CAS has therefore confirmed the reliability of the indirect method of detection based on the blood profile of athletes," it said.

Valjavec, 34, a former AG2R rider, has top 10 finishes in the Tour de France (2008) and the Giro d'Italia (2004 and 2009).

Lampre's team rider Tadej Valjavec of Slovenia cycles past the finish line during the seventh stage individual time trial of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Gregoire and Rennes in this July 8, 2006 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]