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Danish rider Michael Rasmussen has been banned for two years by the Monaco Cycling Federation after he was expelled from last year's Tour de France.

He has, however, been awarded reduced damages for his subsequent sacking by Rabobank.

"The Monaco cycling federation has inflicted a two-year ban on Michael Rasmussen. The ban looks set to run from his exclusion from the tour," Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport website reported.

"Yes, I can confirm it," UCI president Pat McQuaid told Reuters when asked whether the reports were correct.

Rasmussen, 34, who lives in Italy, was sacked by his Rabobank team while leading the tour four days from the finish after it emerged he had lied about his whereabouts in training.

He has been facing a two-year ban since February when the International Cycling Union called on the Monaco federation to discipline him.

The union said in February that after an extensive and careful investigation it believed the rider had acted in a premeditated manner and had prevented doping controls from being undertaken.

Rasmussen, who has denied doping, said last November he lied in the runup to the race because of personal problems.

Meanwhile, a Dutch court ruled that Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen was justifiably sacked by Rabobank.

However, the court ordered Rabobank to pay Rasmussen 700,000 euros in damages for firing the cyclist with immediate effect during the Tour.

The 34-year-old specialist climber was expelled by the Netherlands team while leading the race with just four stages remaining after the revelation of his training lie.

"Rabobank has to pay Rasmussen the salary he would have earned if the lawful period was considered to fire him," the court said in a statement.

Rasmussen had the right to two months salary and a contractual bonus of 400,000 euros, the court said.

He had asked the court for 5.5 million euros in damages for unlawful dismissal.

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Reuters