‘Dope-smeared’ Tour de France champ claims to be a ‘food contamination’ victim

MADRID - Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who has been suspended for failing a dope test, has said that he is a victim of “food contamination”.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) said that Contador had been provisionally suspended after clenbuterol was detected in a urine sample taken from the Spaniard on July 21.

However, Contador insisted that the positive test was a result of eating contaminated meat his team Astana had specially imported from Spain.

“It is a case of food contamination to which I was the victim. The UCI itself affirmed in front of me that it was a case of food contamination,” The Telegraph quoted Contador, as saying.

The 27-year-old further said that clenbuterol “is a substance that does not help performance, and this (tiny) quantity is completely insignificant to improve physical improvement”.

He is also determined not to let this incident taint his career.

“I’m not going to allow something like this to ruin all my hard work. I’m not worried that they are putting into doubt my results in the Tour de France, I know how I’ve done things. I’m not going to hide. I want to clear this up as soon as possible,” Contador said.

“I’m sad and disappointed, but I can hold my head high because with the truth behind me I can talk loud and clear,” he added.

The control was conducted in Pau during the second rest day of the Tour de France, four days before Contador won his third title and on the day before his key clash with Schleck on the Tourmalet climb. (ANI)