Contador wants changes in dope regulations

Contador challenges doping regulations.

Alberto Contador, the champion of the Tour de France, urged anti-doping officials on Friday to change anti-doping rules following his positive test for a banned substance called clenbuterol.

The 27-year old Spaniard said that "the system is in doubt and should be changed."

"There has to be a limit set for substances like clenbuterol so that quantities as tiny as those found in my body due to contaminated food does not count as a positive."

Contador has been placed on provisional suspension by the International Cycling Union (UCI) following his positive test result.

The image of professional cycling has been tarnished further by news of the suspensions of Ezequiel Mosquera, the runner-up of the Tour of Spain, and Contador teammate David Garcia Da Pena also for violating doping rules.

Contador vehemently denied that there was a possible blood transfusion during the Tour de France.

"If they want to test every sample I've given in the Tour, as many different laboratories as they want, or if they want to freeze it for three or five years until future tests are scientifically validated and then check it, they can do it," the champion said. "I have nothing to hide."

Contador claims that the small amount of clenbuterol detected in his body was caused by ingesting contaminated meat containing minute amounts of the substance.

"It just can't be me that positives for contaminated food stuff like mine are placed in the same category as a standard positive for doping," Contador said

Posted by EmpoweredNews on Sunday October 03 2010, 5:15 PM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0