Alexandre Vinokourov and Alberto Contador, Andy Jones at the Tour de France 2010
Tour de France winner Alberto Contador is considering quitting cycling due to an erupting scandal centred on his positive doping test for Clenbuterol.
"I am so disappointed with everything that's happening," he told Spain's El Mundo newspaper, "that I'm thinking of leaving cycling, regardless of any decision by the UCI."
A UCI decision could come within a week as the Tour de France organiser ASO is reportedly asking for an outcome prior to its announcement of the 2011 route on October 19.
Contador won this year's race, his third overall win, on July 25. He announced that on September 30 that the UCI informed him on August 24 that he tested positive for Clenbuterol, a drug to help breathing and weight loss. The urine test was taken on the Tour de France's second rest day, July 21. An analysis on September 8 of a backup sample confirmed the presence of Clenbuterol, 50 picograms or 0.05 nanograms.
The UCI's decision will likely see the Spanish federation review the case and possibly issue Contador a ban of up to one year. His defence that he ate contaminated meet will likely fail.
The European Union banned Clenbuterol for animal fattening in 1996 and regularly checks farms to ensure the rules are followed. According to the Associated Press news agency, Clenbuterol showed only once in 83,203 animal tests in 2008 and 2009. 19,431 of those tests were in Spain and none showed Clenbuterol.
Fernando Ramos, a food contamination specialist at Portugal's Coimbra University, does not believe Contador based his argument on the facts.
"It's not impossible but improbable," he said. "In my opinion, it's just a story."
If Contador's story doesn't hold up, he could lose the Tour de France title. Only four years ago, American Floyd Landis lost his win after a test revealed he used testosterone.
Landis earlier this year wrote an e-mail to the head of USA Cycling and detailed alleged doping practices while he raced with Lance Armstrong. The US government has opened an investigation in Los Angeles to examine Landis' claims and question Armstrong's former team-mates.
Contador, 27, raced with Armstrong in 2009 on his way to win his second Tour de France title.
Related links
Tension rises over Contador's clenbuterol case
Reader comments
Add your comments
Rob
October 12 15:49
See you later then. I won't miss you.
Mike
October 12 16:00
Seems to me he is geting out before the ban hits so he can claim the moral high ground. I wonder if Vino gave him the idea. Then when his ban is up he can come out of "retirement" ,like Vino did, and start again. I supose he has earned enough for a comfortable life out of pro cycling.
jeff
October 12 16:10
So what are you going to do instead bertie? As a noted academic you shouldn't struggle to find employment cleaning toilets, serving in a bar or maybe as a Vet. Clearly knows a lot about the livestock business.
Ken Evans
October 12 16:25
"The UCI's decision will likely see the Spanish federation review the case and possibly issue Contador a ban of up to one year." Why only one year ? I thought a two year ban was normal for a first offence.
Not Surprised
October 12 17:29
1 year ban is because Spanish federation is on Contador's side no matter how many kilograms found in his blood. They would impose 0 years ban if they were not afraid of UCI and losing their credibility. We are living in the world of lies.
whatever
October 12 18:14
These cycling clowns are so lame. He took his chances, got caught. Man up & stop whining, for crying out loud.
BLT
October 12 22:18
Stop teasing me or I'll take my ball and go home.
Sean Hurley
October 13 01:39
Surely the most significant factor in this whole charade is the residues of plasticiser from the bags used in blood transfusions,clearly the sad little s*** was autotransfusing on the rest-day and the low levels were due to residues from prior misdemeanors. The story about contaminated meat was so infantile and pathetic that he should take a life ban for stupidity. My recommendation would be a 10 year ban. Now lets go after the soccer players and tennis players whose names were never revealed in Operation Puerto............
Spencer
October 13 04:46
I am puzzled by someone of Contador's level wanting to quit cycling if he is in fact innocent. At the very least, this demonstrates weak character and a lack of dedication to cycling in general. At worst, he's guilty and won't man up. What a way to go out, possibly receiving a UCI ban and then quitting. Wow.
Colnago dave
October 13 08:43
Is this not confusing, according to the report clenbuterol is used in cycling to help with breathing and to aid weight loss, then later on it is stated that the "The European Union banned Clenbuterol for animal fattening in 1996 and regularly checks farms to ensure the rules are followed." Now we know why Contador struggled in the mountains he was the proverbial fattened cow and as all of us drug free cyclists can attest we have never been beaten up hills by an easy breathing cow.
lance
October 13 09:01
I wonder if they ban Condator(they should) will he start blaming Lance for doping like everybody else.And if he quits (Condator) that will be the gayiest thing to do since he "is not guilty".Banned or not whenever i hear the name Condator the first thing that will come to my mind is "he was good but he cheated and doped to win TdF 2010" cuz it was clear that Andy was the better cyclist that year.
Colnago dave
October 13 09:17
Response to Lance - Was Andy the better rider this year as I remember father Schlecks car being searched for drugs two years ago, No smoke without fire perhaps !!??