(Adds Ballan fired by BMC) PARIS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Former world road race champion Alessandro Ballan has been handed a two-year ban after he was implicated in a doping ring, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) said on Friday. The Italian Anti-Doping Tribunal found him guilty of violating article 2.2 of the World Anti-Doping Agency code relating to the "use or attempted use of banned substances". "BMC is terminating the contract of Alessandro Ballan. In accordance with the BMC Racing Team's strict anti-doping policy, Ballan is no longer a member of the BMC Racing Team," team general manager Jim Ochowicz said in a statement. More...