Tour de France - Exclusive: Contador confident of quick decision
Alberto Contador has told Eurosport he expects the doping case against him will be closed in just over a week.
The Tour de France champion was provisionally suspended for having a concentration of anabolic agent clenbuterol 400 times less than what anti-doping laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency must be able to detect.
The Spanish rider, who gave the sample on a rest day at the Tour in July, has maintained his innocence and blamed eating contaminated meat for the traces in his system.
And the 27-year-old Astana rider said in an exclusive interview with Eurosport that he is confident that his case will be resolved in around "8 to 10 days".
"People who know me and people who have been working with me know that I'm innocent," he said.
"I completely trust the dope test process. I had eight tests during last Tour de France. Scientific evidence supports me."
Asked whether he expected a ban, he said: "That's something that I cannot contemplate, especially when you know that you haven't done anything wrong.
"I don't know what is going to happen but I know that it is difficult to be banned when you haven't done anything wrong."
He added: "It is really hard to accept that I may be banned."
Contador revealed that his former team-mate Lance Armstrong, who has himself had to fight off rumours of doping throughout his career, has not been in contact with him since the revelations became public last Thursday, although he is convinced he has the support of Europe's cycling community.
"I haven't spoken to him (Armstrong) but I know what he thinks about it through other people," he said.
"I really think people across Europe trust me. It’s a totally unjust situation. I’m a completely transparent person, dedicated to the struggle against doping and the call for anti-doping sanctions against teams.
"I'm defending my position so ferociously because I'm speaking the truth, the whole truth.
"I don't want to think that people in France, Germany or on the Tour de France have something against me. I don't want to think that there is something else involved."
Comment 75 - 94 of 94
These journalists keep printing these doping stories and critising riders who get caught but then laud it over Tom Simpson at every oppotunity. They appear to be blind to Millars past misdemeanours but slag off Ricco. Consistancy please (p.s. Millar must be back on the juice after that ride in the tt)
they should get at least a 5 year ban
I remember during Alberto's first tour win he was accused of having contact with a dirty doctor.
The stain due to doping, accusations, etc has left professional cycling in shambles. IF the tour and cycling directors are serious, then they would increase the punishment for tainted riders. A 2 year ban is no big deal, but if it was 5 years, the rider would probably never have a chance again. Cheaters have the advantage of finding new drugs that will increase performance.
It was not 400 times - it was only 40 times.
If Contador gets off - then Cycling is a complete farce. Been going after Lance forever and have never found nothing and they continue to attack.
Contador has a positive test and they tried to hide the results and they help Contador come up with excuses.
Contador is a total @#$% and is bad for the sport of cycling.
Stay positive Alberto :-)
This Chorizo still looks good to me though .........
Contador become a vegeterian, word of advise DON'T eat Spanish beef, seems as a lot of Spaniards are performing a little too well now days, mind you had you not jumped Schleck at the TDF it would not matter as you would not have won in any case. And yes I agree with shane, where is Lemond, gutless dirtbag
Hey Albuterol Contadoper, you want a quick decision? GUILTY!
Lemond came out against Contador a long time ago. There's no need for him to gloat.
Where the hell is Lemond? Why is he not coming out against Contador? Man if that was Armstrong he would be frying the guy. What a joke Lemond is!!!
McQuaid is Lance's @#$%. OK, I said it.
At least Alberto didn't mix up his transfusion with someone elses like Vino did. If your gonna dope, do it right!!!
I cant believe one thing, if U best in the world (1st place on the world Velo d'Or last three years), why U need a doping? I cant understand that, that's I yet dont believe that he is use dope
His clenbuterol level was 400 times less than can be detected by authorised labs.? If so, how was it detected? As an ex analytical chemist detection methods are only as good as the equipment you have and if they have been accepting nil levels on other riders then they should update the detection equipment on said laboratories, but give Contador the benefit of the doubt. Their statement does not make sense as it is admitting that all previous results are erroneous.
The thought of old and supposedly 'clean' blood being used in a transfusion ala Landis is what went through my my mind when I first read the levels.
I wanted to believe Landis; I wanted to believe Hamilton; now, I'm very skeptical of the rationalization.
Maybe AC will be found not guilty. It is difficult to say what would be better for cycling at this point.
With regard to the tainted meat, hey, it worked 12years ago for Paola Pezzo
The evidence of transfusions is weasle worded @#$%.
The New York Times which ran the story, provides no sources, nor does it specify a plasticiser, which is a huge group of products. It's rather like those shampoo adverts that claim to contain amino acids - technically true, but utterly meaningless. Buy our new product, now contains atoms!
Clenbuterol at that dosage is useless, fairly easy to detect, and absolutely nowhere near as useful to a cyclist (or as undetectable) as EPO.
It just doesn't make any sense.
I don't suppose Dertie is clean, but I'm also not convinced there's enough here to convict him.
Don't worry it's coming ! And you could come back this day..
As i've already said: If there is evidence of transfusions i'd expect to be hearing it in a report & interview from WADA / UCI rather than through this message board!
74- Only if rider eats the plastic with beef !
I prefered the Landis version with beer !
Contador 2 times doped:
1- clenbuterol
2- 8 times plasticizer more than tolerated,
well if there is any right the Tour wins goes to Andy Schleck!!
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