Contador tests positive for banned substance

Contador tests positive.

Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador reportedly tested positive for a banned chemical during the last rest day for the event in July, according to a statement sent Wednesday from the Spaniard’s spokesman Jacinto Vidarte.

The former Astana cycling team member could be given a suspension lasting two years and could also be stripped of the title he won last year.

According to the statement, the cyclist tested positive for clenbuterol, a drug used for muscle-building and losing weight, and learned about it on August 24, almost a month after winning the title.

Contador claimed that he unknowingly took the substance.

“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,” the statement said.

The International Cycling Union, the governing body of the sport, said in a statement that the Spaniard had a “very small concentration” of clenbuterol and that it has put Contador under provisional suspension.

“This case required further scientific investigation before any conclusion could be drawn,” the statement said.

The 27-year old Contador is known as the best stage cyclist in the world. He had won his sport’s top three events — Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
He beat his Astana teammate Lance Armstrong in 2009 for his second Tour de France title.

After losing almost the rest of his teammates who followed Armstrong over to Team RadioShack, Contador won again this year to affirm that he is the best cyclist in the world today.

Posted by George Daniels on Friday October 01 2010, 2:50 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0