(ANSAmed) - MADRID, FEBRUARY 6 - Spanish racing cyclist
Aberto Contador has been sentenced by the Court of Arbitration
for Sport (TAS) to a 2-year suspension. Contador was found
guilty of using clembuterol during the Tour de France of 2010.
The news was announced by the Court, quoted by the on-line
edition of Marca. The cyclist also loses his title as winner of
the Tour of 2010 and the 'Giro d'Italia' in 2011, and will not
be able to compete in the Olympic Games in London next year.
In tests, 50 picogrammes of clembutero were found in the blood
of the Spanish athlete. The substance is banned by the
international anti-doping code but Contador's defence lawyer
claimed that his client had eaten contaminated meat.
Contador has been formally suspended by the International
Cycling Union (UCI), which had asked the Spanish royal cycling
federation (RFEC) to take legal steps against the cyclist. This
resulted in a one-year suspension, but the Committee of
Competition decided on February 14 to acquit Contador.
The UCI appealed against the decision to the TAS, joined by the World Anti-doping Agency. Today's verdict was expected in August last year. (ANSAmed).
The UCI appealed against the decision to the TAS, joined by the World Anti-doping Agency. Today's verdict was expected in August last year. (ANSAmed).
