Tour de France champion Contador suspended after failing drug test

LONDON - Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has been provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for failing an anti-doping test during this year’s race.
The UCI confirmed that only a “very small concentration” of the drug had been found and that the case warranted “further scientific investigation” because the Cologne laboratory that detected the substance is known to be able to detect the tiniest traces of drugs.

If Contador is found guilty, he will be banned from competition and could face losing the 2010 title.

Contador, who has won three Tour de France races, tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol on July 21 in Pau, during the rest day.

Clenbuterol is often used to treat breathing disorders such as asthma, and is a powerful weight-loss and muscle-building drug, The Telegraph reports. Alberto Contador is affected by a doping control at the last Tour de France on July 21, where it was found the substance clenbuterol,” a statement from Contador’s press officer said.

“From the time of the first communication from the UCI, August 24, Alberto Contador alleged food contamination as the only possible explanation of what happened and has been turned over to the cyclist authorities since then in the confidence that this very serious problem could be clarified, which now is public,” it said.

“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, making it possible to define precisely both the time the emergence of the substance as the tiny amount detected, ruling out any other source or intentionality.

“Alberto Contador will offer … a press conference in order to give his version of what happened to the public,” the statement said.

Contador won the Tour by just 39 seconds from Andy Schleck. (ANI)