Alberto Contador supported by Spanish farmers' association
Tour de France-winner Alberto Contador's claims of food contamination have been supported by Ramon Riestra, who represents Spain's largest farmers' association Asociacion Agraria-Jovenes Agricultores (ASAJA).
The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) is due to hold hearings against Contador, whose urine sample from the second rest day of this year's Tour de France revealed low levels of Clenbuterol, a prohibited substance.
The Spaniard has claimed that the traces found were caused by the intake of contaminated meat that had been brought to his team from northern Spain during the race.
Speaking to Spanish daily AS, Riestra said that Contador's excuse is credible given the amount of meat Spain imports from South America, where the use of Clenbuterol in livestock is allowed.
"I want to denounce that Spain imports Clebuterol-contaminated meat coming from South America and that Contador is only a scapegoat," the ASAJA representative said. "The European Union has signed an agreement with Mercosur, South America's common market, to
import 20 million tons of meat over three years for the 27 European countries. Spain, which is meat-deficient, receives a minumum of two million tons. And in South America, it is not prohibited to fatten cattle with Clenbuterol."
Riestra said that the town Contador has claimed the meat came from, Irun, is close to Saint Jean de Luz, a French town known as an entry port for South American meat.
He also went on to denounce the inadequacy of the sanitary inspections of the imported meat, claiming the controls were both inadequate and plagued with corruption.
Beef producers demand evidence
Meanwhile, Spain's largest association of beef producers, the Asociacion Espanola de Productores de Carne de Vacuno (ASOPROVAC), has issued a statement urging Contador's defence to prove his innocence during the hearings rather than simply claiming it in
statements to the press.
"Contador is also urged to report the case via legal channels if he is really interested in clarifying the facts and to identify responsible, and not only via the media as has happened so far," the statement read.
The rider's defence team, which is led by Swiss anti-doping lawyer Rocco Taminelli, is currently preparing Contador's case to be presented to the RFEC.
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