Update: Feb. 15, 2011 — After proposing a one-year ban on cyclist Alberto Contador, the Spanish Cycling Federation has overturned that proposal and he is free to race again.
Contador appealed their findings that he had intentionally used clenbuteral, a performance-enhancing drug, during the Tour de France. Instead, they chose to believe his story that he accidentally ingested it in some clen-tainted steak.
Contador says he's ready to ride the Volta ao Algarve on Wednesday for his new team, Saxo Bank. The International Cycling Union says it's waiting to receive the full dossier on the investigation before offering its opinion on the Spanish board's flip-flop.
Update: Jan. 28, 2011 — The Spanish cyclist known as El Pistolero is sticking to his guns that and says he'll appeal the one-year ban imposed for allegedly using clenbuterol as a performance-inducing drug.
At a press conference on Friday, Alberto Contador said:
“I will do whatever is necessary to defend my innocence to the end. The penalty is not fair. …
“I have never doped. I think I am an example of cleanliness. I believed in the test system, not now. I do not believe in the system. I know what I'm exposed to and that's why I never doped.
“The only mistake I made is to eat meat that contained Clenbuterol.”
VeloNews reported that the Competition Committee of the Spanish Federation is expected to be finalized in about a week. Then Contador has 30 days to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Good story by Bonnie Ford at ESPN.com about differences between treatment of Contador and other cyclists. For starters, why only a one-year ban? Most doping suspensions are for two years.
Jan. 26, 2011 — Spain's cycling federation is proposing a one-year ban on Alberto Contador for doping during the 2010 Tour de France, which he won.
Contador confirmed the one-year ban proposal by the Competition Committee of the Spanish Federation in a statement. He and current team boss Bjarne Riis of Saxo Bank will “express their opinion about this case” at a press conference on Friday. [The team released a statement also.]
Contador won his third Tour de France as a member of the Astana team, but switched to Saxo Bank during the off-season. CyclingNews.com said Contador could be stripped of his title, which would go to the second-place finisher of the race, Andy Schleck.
News that Contador had failed the doping test emerged about two months after the conclusion of the race.
It was alleged that traces of clenbuterol were found in a sample taken on July 21, a rest day in the Pyrenees. The next day, Schleck unsuccessfully tried to attack Contador on the steep slopes of the Col de Tourmalet to win back an 8-second deficit.
Contador said that tainted beef he ate led to the traces of clenbuterol, which is also used as a feed supplement in cattle. The World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list specifically names the drug under “other anabolic agents.”
CyclingNews says Contador has 10 days to appeal the decision before it is finalized on Feb. 9.
Although whether Contador actually ate meat that was contaminated with clenbuteral is open interpretation, AP reporter John Leicester recently reported that it is possible for athletes to test positive after eating tainted food products.
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