Italian cyclist Riccardo Riccò on Monday filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a reduction in his two-year doping suspension, noting that he had cooperated with investigators after being found positive at the Tour de France.

Riccò, 24, was suspended from riding by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in July after admitting to using a new variant of the EPO. He was kicked out the Tour and was subsequently fired by his Saunier-Duval team after testing positive following the Stage 4 time-trial.

He initially claimed to be innocent, but following a meeting with CONI officials, he admitted to his offense, and then criticized testing procedures because he had passed many tests despite being doped.

"The athlete requests the reduction of the suspension on the basis of his collaboration with the competent authorities in this matter," CAS said in a statement released Monday, adding that the court would probably deliver a verdict within four months.