Contador tests positive for banned substance
Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has been banned from cycling since August after failing a drugs test his spokesman announced on Wednesday.
Contador hasn’t raced since claiming his third tour back in July, with the Spaniard being suspended from late August. Contador’s spokesman announced the 27-year-old tested positive for a trace amount of clenbuterol, a banned substance most commonly prescribed as an asthma medication.
"The experts consulted so far have agreed also that this is a food contamination case, especially considering the number of tests passed by Alberto Contador during the Tour de France," Jacinto Vidarte, Contador's publicist, said.
Contador has yet to be found guilty of an official doping violation according to international cycling authorities. The cyclist was first made aware of the failed test on August 24th, according to Vidarte. The positive sample was taken on the second day of the Tour and Contador could now be facing a two-year ban from the sport if he is found guilty.
"The concentration found by the laboratory was estimated at 50 picograms (or 0,000 000 000 05 grams per ml) which is 400 times less than what the anti-doping laboratories accredited by Wada must be able to detect," a Union Cycliste Internationale said.
According to the UCI the sample was analyzed by the Wada-accredited laboratory in Cologne, Germany.
“The UCI continues working with the scientific support of Wada to analyse all the elements that are relevant to the case. This further investigation may take some more time,” the statement read.
There are question marks as to why the announcement was made two months after the initial positive test. Floyd Landis, a former Tour winner, had his test failed test announced after just a week.
Contador is expected to put the positive test down to food contamination, an excuse that is likely to get little sympathy from the Wada given its banning history.
“The UCI will refrain from making any further comments until the management of this adverse analytical finding has been completed.”
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