Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has been stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and Giro d'Italia titles and banned from competing in any races until August.
The Switzerland-based Court for Arbitration of Sport handed down the two-year ban against Contador for doping with clenbuterol during 2010.
The court didn't believe Contador's claim that, during the latter stages of the 2010 Tour, he had unknowingly eaten beef contaminated with the clenbuterol in feed.
The court made the ban retroactive to August 2010. Contador cannot race in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France or Olympic Games this year, but will be eligible for the Vuelta a Espana in August.
The 2010 Tour de France title now goes to Andy Schleck, who had previously said he wasn't interested in winning a title by default. The 2010 Giro goes to Michele Scarponi.
The timing of the decision is ironic, as Lance Armstrong learned just last Friday that the federal government was dropping its 2-year investigation into doping allegations against the 7-time Tour de France winner.
CyclingNews.com reports that Contador will hold a press conference on Tuesday. He can appeal the decision to the Swiss supreme court.
The case went to the Court after the UCI, pro cycling's governing body, and World Anti Doping Agency appealed the Spanish cycling federation's decision not to take action against Contador.
The “tainted beef” story emerged after WADA announced after the Tour de France that Contador had failed a blood test on July 21, a rest day. The next day, Stage 17 in the Pyrenees, witnessed Contador successfully fight off numerous attacks by Schleck.
He was a member of the Astana team in 2010; he now rides for SaxoBank-SunGard.
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