Spanish authorities have been given six months to hand over a blood bag at the center of a doping probe involving cyclist Alejandro Valverde.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Friday that it has suspended the case for the six-month period until it receives the evidence.
After that, the court will hear an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union against a Spanish decision not to open disciplinary proceedings against Valverde.
"The Court of Arbitration of Sport affirmed its jurisdiction to decide the appeals," the CAS said.
Valverde won the first stage of this year's Tour de France and is among the favorites for the overall title. He was implicated in Spain's wide-ranging Operation Puerto doping probe last year, but has denied any wrongdoing.
CAS said it has asked Spanish legal authorities to produce "blood bag `No. 18'" after its first request was rejected by the Spanish magistrate in charge of the case. CAS has since asked again _ this time through "official channels."
"Such procedure of mutual legal assistance can take several months," CAS said.
Valverde has already been the subject of one CAS decision, winning the right to compete in last year's cycling world championship after the UCI tried to prevent him from racing.
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