The International Cycling Union cleared Australian cyclist Allan Davis on Wednesday to race in this week's world championships.

Davis had requested a last-minute hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to override the UCI's wish to ban him from Sunday's road race over an alleged doping link.

However, the UCI lost a similar case against Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde on Wednesday and a spokesman for cycling's world governing body said it was clearing Davis to ride.

"It's to ensure equal treatment of the riders," the spokesman told reporters.

The UCI wrote to Cycling Australia last week asking for Davis to be withdrawn from the team for the world championships, which finish in Stuttgart on Sunday.

The Australian federation refused, saying it had closed an investigation into Davis who had been linked to the Operation Puerto case in Spain, and concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

Reuters / Eurosport