Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has tested positive to a banned substance in news that will send shockwaves through the cycling world.
Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has tested positive to a bannedAir Jordan Shoes
substance in news that will send shockwaves through the cycling world.
Contador – who has won three Tour de France championships – tested positive on July 21 this year with the analysis revealing traces of clenbuterol.
Contador has blamed food contamination for his positive test result.
In a statement released by Contador’s publicist, the cyclist will hold a Air Force Nike
press conference to address the allegations in Pinto, Spain, at midday local time (8pm AEST).
“Alberto Contador is affected by a doping control at the last Tour deNew Balance Running
France on July 21, where it was found the substance clenbuterol,” the statement 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 turnedED Hardy Clothing
over to the cyclist authorities since then in the confidence that this very serius [sic] problem could be clarified, which now is plubic [sic].
“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 theAbercrombie and Fitch UK
emergence of the substance as the tiny amount detected, ruling out any other source or intentionality.”
If Contador is found guilty of a doping offence, he will be stripped of this year’s Tour de France title and could be banned for a period to be determined. Andy Schleck lost to Contador by just 39 seconds.
Australia’s Cadel Evans finished second to Contador in the 2007 Tour de France.
Under doping control guidelines, Contador is allowed to request testing of a second sample.
Contador was part of the Astana-Würth team that was forced to withdraw from the 2006 Tour de France following doping allegations.
Contador was among five riders named in a doping investigation byOil Paintings Sale
Spanish authorities but he maintained his innocence during the scandal.
He never failed a drug test nor was he ever punished by cycling authorities.
British hurdler Callum Priestley was banned from competition in September for two years after testing positive to clenbuterol. He also blamed food contamination.
American Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France but was later found guilty of doping and was stripped of his title.
The World Anti-Doping Code categorises clenbuterol as a class S1 Anabolic Nike Dunk
Agent. Athletes in possession, using or attempting to use it face serious penalties, including a lifetime ban for second offences.
In cases of athlete abuse, clenbuterol is commonly used to strip fat and enhance muscle size. It also has short-term stimulating effects such as increases in aerobic capacity, blood pressure and alertness.
Clenbuterol is often prescribed to treat chronic breathing disorders such as asthma or bronchitis and aids breathing.
Team RadioShack rider Fuyu Li was banned for two years in August for testing positive to the drug.
Clenbuterol is also used by farmers to keep meat on animals lean.
Cases of food poisoningAir Jordan
caused by clenbuterol have been widely reported. More than 70 Chinese workers were reportedly poisoned by a pork dish containing the drug in 2008.
