Madrid - Spanish cycling star Alejandro Valverde has asked for a further postponement of a hearing by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) in a doping investigation, Spanish media reported Tuesday.

Valverde had originally been ordered to appear before a CONI panel on Monday, but the hearing had been postponed to Wednesday at the Caisse d'Epargne rider's request.

According to the reports, Valverde has sought another 48-hour postponement to allow his lawyers more time on the case.

The summons relates to a control by CONI in which blood tests were made on 21 riders including two-time ProTour winner Valverde after a Tour de France stage in Italy on July 21.

Italian media reports said follow-up DNA tests matched the blood samples to samples seized by police from the laboratory of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in the Operation Puerto investigation.

More than 50 cyclists were believed to be clients of Fuentes, who was accused of running a doping network.

Earlier this year Spanish judicial authorities reopened the investigation which followed raids in May 2006 in which police found large quantities of anabolic steroids, equipment used for blood transfusions and more than 200 bags of blood. (dpa)