Earlier today former world champion cyclist Alessandro Ballan was banned for two years for blood doping and fired by the BMC Racing Team.

Intense pain forced Ballan to return to the operation table.

Team BMC Racing's Alessandro Ballan is expected to be released from a Spanish hospital early next week. Ballan will return to Italy to be reunited with his family.

Earlier today it was reported that Team BMC Racing's Alessandro Ballan was released from intensive care in the hospital in Spain today. Ballan, however, remains hospitalized as he recovers from injuries suffered in a high speed crash during training last week.