(ANSA) - Rio de Janeiro, August 9 - The international athletics association IAAF has called for Italian race walker Alex Schwazer to be disqualified for eight years amid new allegations of doping in an appeal hearing against his suspension from the Rio Olympics, ANSA sources said. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to hand down a ruling on the controversial case by Friday.

Schwazer returned to competition in May after serving a ban he was handed for testing positive before the 2012 London Olympics.

Shortly thereafter it was announced that testosterone had been detected in a urine test in January. All other urine or blood tests conducted on the athlete since 2015 have been negative.

Schwazer argues he is now clean and is the victim of foul play.

He is in Rio pending the outcome of his appeal against his suspension.

The men's 20km race walk is scheduled for Friday.

