Alberto Contador’s hearing for 2010 Tour de France postponed until November 2011 – Cycling News
After testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, Alberto Contador was cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union have appealed.
Contador’s hearing was scheduled in June but then was postponed until August after the Tour de France as the cyclist was participating in the Tour and finished at fifth position.
His hearing has been further delayed until November this year
“As a consequence of the party’s request, the hearing which was scheduled for 1, 2 and 3 August 2011 is cancelled and will be re-scheduled for new dates, probably in November 2011,” as per Court of Arbitration for Sports.
This will give more time to the parties to complete the arguments and evidence related to the scientific issue.
Contador’s hearing was scheduled to be on 6, 7 and 8 June but it was delayed to 1, 2 and 3 August later, as requested. The new hearing days are not decided yet but it will be somewhere in November, 2011 as dates are not finalised as of now.
Alberto might be losing his 2010 Tour de France title and a possible ban of two years if he is found guilty by the Lausanne-based court. Days before the start of Tour de France 2010 traces of clenbuterol were found in his urine.
The Spaniard’s explanation was accepted by the Spanish Cycling Federation as he stated that he unintentionally consumed the drug from some contaminated beef. The drug is useful for fat-burning and muscle building and that is the reason why it is considered
prohibited in the International events.
Spanish Cycling Federation, International Cycling Union and Contador have agreed to move back the hearing from August to November.
Clenbuterol is considered as a zero tolerance drug however, athletes can get away with it only if they can prove “no fault or negligence” on their part.
Contador confirmed that he will not be participating in the Vuelta a Espana as he wants to fully recover from the recent Tour de France. Contador is the three times winner of Tour de France and finished at the fifth position this year about four minutes
behind the winner Cadel Evans.
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