Alberto Contador is
facing the possibility of a two-year ban and losing this year’s Tour de
France title after the UCI asked the Spanish federation to open
proceedings against him for failing a drugs test. The 27-year-old
Spaniard tested positive for the banned stimulant clenbuterol on the
second rest day of this year’s Tour which he won for the third time,
beating Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck by 39 seconds.
Contador said
traces of the substance were found in his system after he ate
contaminated meat, prompting the UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency to
investigate further. “At the end of a long and meticulous enquiry
entrusted to highly qualified, WADA-accredited experts, and considering
all the information currently in its possession, the UCI has concluded
that disciplinary proceedings should be opened against Alberto
Contador,” the UCI said in a statement. “The UCI has sent its request
to the Spanish Federation that has competence in this regard. It is now
the responsibility of this Federation to determine whether Alberto
Contador has breached the UCI Anti-Doping Rules. “In the meantime,
until the end of the proceedings and despite his provisional suspension,
Alberto Contador still benefits from a presumption of innocence.” If
the federation decides not to sanction the world’s top rider, the UCI
and WADA will have the opportunity to appeal to the Court of Arbitration
for Sport . Contador’s B-sample analysis confirmed the result of the
first test.
Reuters