MADRID, April 18, 2009 (AFP) – The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) said Saturday a judge has again refused to hand over blood samples that could prove whether Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde is guilty of doping.

The federation said it was in “total and absolute disagreement” with the ruling by Judge Antonio Serrano and said it planned to appeal the decision.

The RFEC wants access to the blood samples seized by Spanish police that could implicate Valverde and other riders in Spain’s Operation Puerto blood doping scandal, which dates back to 2006.

The Italian National Olympic Committee early this month called for a two-year suspension for the Spanish rider, a measure which could be confirmed on May 11, after it obtained evidence against Valverde from Spanish judicial authorities.

It said blood samples from Valverde taken during an Italian stage of last year’s Tour de France matched those DNA samples from suspect blood bags discovered in Operation Puerto.

Valverde has denied the allegations.

In February, the Madrid High Court declared CONI’s procedure legally invalid since it said the committee, which is part of Italy’s culture ministry, had no right to demand the seized blood samples from Spain.

It also ruled that the samples in the Puerto affair could not be used as evidence in another case and by another judicial body.

Valverde has long come under suspicion of doping after being implicated in the Puerto affair although nothing came of Spanish investigations into his alleged involvement.

Valverde is a one-day specialist who is a twice Pro Tour champion and has three times finished on the podium at the World Championships and was second in the 2006 Tour of Spain.