Thor Hushovd skeptical of praise for Alberto Contador
Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd has expressed concern over recent praise for Alberto Contador, who is provisionally banned from cycling due to testing positive for Clenbuterol.
Contador, who has won three editions of the Tour de France and added his last title in July, tested positive for the forbidden substance on 21 July, the last of two rest days during this year's race.
Despite the ongoing testing of Contador's samples to determine the outcome of the case, the Spaniard was named honorary citizen of his hometown Pinto on Friday, 29 October.
Juan Jose Martin, Pinto's mayor, declared that Contador's successes in the sport represented "...the triumph of honesty, sacrifice, effort and hard work every day," a contentious statement in light of the recent allegations.
Hushovd, who said earlier this month that he has never seen doping take place in the sport, reacted to Contador's award when speaking to Norwegian television.
"To do it while his doping investigation is still ongoing is odd. I think and I hope it would not have happened in Norway," Hushovd told
Norwegian TV 2 Sport, adding that he would have been surprised to see the same title awarded to an athlete undergoing a doping investigation in Grimstad, the sprinter's hometown on Norway's southern coast.
Cites cultural differences
The world champion, who won the points classification of the Tour in 2005 and 2009, added that the award "tells of a different culture" to that of his home country.
He also stressed that Contador cannot get any preferential treatment as a result of his status in the sport.
"He must be treated like everyone else, and if they find out that he has cheated, he has to take the full punishment. And if it is two years, he must take it."
The president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Pat McQuaid, has denied that Contador's case is being treated any differently than others.
The body is currently awaiting the results of the further tests on Contador's samples, which are being carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
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