"Zero tolerance" for dopers, says former convict, Alberto Contador
Returning after serving a two-year ban for doping at the Tour de France 2010, Alberto Contador has decided to take a firm stand against all the doping cheats.
He cited that the sport of cycling suffered a lot from the curse of doping in the past years and its credibility is at stake.
The cyclist noted that it is the right time for UCI to introduce reforms to ensure no one bypasses the system in order to achieve the desired results.
"For cycling, it should be zero tolerance, I express myself less certain but it is clear that there is no place for cheaters," he explained.
Contador was pointing towards Lance Armstrong and his systematic doping with Team USPS that helped him winning as many as seven Tour de France overall wins and many other victories.
He was tested several times throughout the career but the American managed to dodge the watchful eye of UCI and WADA for several years.
However USADA’s detailed investigation proved him guilty and the 1000 page report along with the testimony of 26 different cyclists was enough to bring Armstrong down for the count.
As many as 11 of his former teammates accepted the use of unfair means to enhance performance during their professional career and faced suspension.
His former teammates include, Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie.
Contador himself never admitted doping and stated that the Tour de France positive results that showed traces of clenbuterol in his system came through the contaminated beef that he consumed a night before the Tour.
"I worked according to the regulations and they said that the victory is not mine, it's an injustice," he said.
The ban prevented him from participating at the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia 2012 and Vuelta a Espana was the only race he was allowed to ride, which he won.
He is now eyeing the Tour de France 2013,"I would love to do the Tour obviously".
"I missed it this year. But if I only find out two months before, then I won't [be there]. I need enough time to prepare. Otherwise I won't be a part of it".
Alberto Contador is amongst the best stage race cyclists currently present in the peloton and he is anxious to get his back on his bike early on the 2013 season to make up for the lost time.
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