German cyclist Stefan Schumacher has made his case to overturn a two-year ban for doping at the 2008 Tour de France.

Schumacher gave evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday in his appeal against a suspension imposed by the International Cycling Union.

A verdict is expected later this year.

Schumacher won two time trial stages at last year's Tour and led the race for two days. Two months later, the French anti-doping authority used a new test to find traces of the banned hormone CERA in Schumacher's blood samples taken before and during the race.

The French authority banned Schumacher from racing in France for two years, and the UCI later extended the ban worldwide until January 2011.