A Belgian disciplinary commission has given cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke a six-month ban.

It comes just a week after he won his appeal against a suspension imposed by the Belgian cycling federation.

He is also subject to a 12-month ban if he breaks any other cycling rules in the next two years.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had annulled an earlier six-month ban.

Under Belgian rules, the matter should have handled by a disciplinary commission which deals with all sports and not the federation itself.

Vandenbroucke was suspended following the discovery of banned substances at his home in February.

Sacked

Officers discovered substances such as blood-boosting EPO, anabolic steroid clenbuterol and morphine.

Vandenbroucke was immediately sacked by his Belgian team Domo, despite a urine test taken shortly after the discovery showing no traces of banned products in his metabolism.

The Belgian federation suspended Vandenbroucke for six months in March and fined him 6,950 euros (�4,250).

But the 27-year-old launched an appeal which the CAS upheld, essentially over a legal technicality.

Sports federations can apply for permission to make their own decisions, but the cycling federation had not done so, the CAS ruled.

The rider's house was searched in February after police discovered amphetamines and syringes in the car of his French physiotherapist, Bernard Sainz, the day before.

Controversial figure

Sainz, known in cycling circles as 'Dr Mabuse', was also charged with possession of illegal substances.

Vandenbroucke is no stranger to controversy.

In 1999 he was suspended by his former team Cofidis after being investigated in France over his association with Sainz.

Sainz was charged with breaking the law relating to toxic substances and doping products and imprisoned for two months last May. A judgement on his case is still pending.

Vandenbroucke denied at the time he was a cheat, but said he may have been naive in taking homeopathic products for which he paid Sainz $9,500 (�6,000).

Cofidis reinstated Vandenbroucke, who had been leading the World Cup standings at the time, when he was cleared by a judicial inquiry.

The rider, who turned professional at 19, won the Paris-Nice one-week classic through France in 1998.

He won eight races the following year including the World Cup classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege and two stages in the Spanish Vuelta.