Contador intends to 'defend my innocence until the end'
Tour de France champion Alberto Contador plans to appeal any suspension for his failed doping test at cycling's showcase race, saying Friday he feels like a "victim of the system."
"I will defend my innocence until the end," the Spanish rider said at a news conference in Mallorca, two days after Spanish cycling officials proposed a one-year ban for his positive clenbuterol test.
Contador blames the positive test on eating contaminated meat. The Spanish cycling federation accepted that defence and recommended a reduced ban rather than the standard two-year penalty. He also would be stripped of the 2010 Tour title.
"They are recognizing that I'm innocent and then they give me a one-year ban," the three-time Tour winner said. "I can't explain that. I can't defend that. I can't do anything more."
"Of course I feel like a victim — a victim of the system," he said.
Contador has until Feb. 9 to present more evidence before the Spanish federation's disciplinary committee renders a final verdict. That decision can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by Contador, the International Cycling Union or World Anti-Doping Agency.
"In the next 10 days I'm going to work and do all I can to receive justice," he said. "It's a question of honour, defending your pride and your innocence."
Contador, sounding defiant by the close of his news conference, called the entire disciplinary process "shameful" and said he will do all he can to see that the rule on clenbuterol is changed.
"I'm conscious of the proposed resolution but this is about honour," he said. "What hurts the most is that all of the scientists know I'm innocent. And this hurts me. This is sad. Very sad."
"To lose everything I've achieved until now ... Now I don't believe in the anti-doping system."
Contador appeared at the news conference along with Bjarne Riis, head of his Saxo Bank-SunGard team. Riis said the team and its sponsors were sticking by Contador.
"It is extremely important we can distinguish between those who try to cheat on purpose and those who take something by accident," Riis said.
If Contador is stripped of the Tour victory, the title would go to runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. A one-year ban means Contador wouldn't have to surrender 70 percent of his salary, unlike a two-year ban.
Contador would not only miss this year's Tour if the ban is upheld, he would also miss out on participating in the Spanish Vuelta by only three days because the one-year ban would end on Aug. 23. The ban would be retroactive to Aug. 24 of last year — the day he was informed of the positive control.
Contador also won Tour titles in 2007 and 2009.
Contador says he ate meat contaminated with clenbuterol on a rest day during the tour in July.
The case highlights a growing concern that clenbuterol can be consumed unwittingly from eating bad meat. It is on WADA's zero-tolerance list.
Italian cyclist Alessandro Colo received a one-year ban from Italian authorities after testing positive for clenbuterol from meat consumed in Mexico last year. WADA is not appealing the case while cycling's governing body must decide by Monday whether it goes for a two-year ban.
Contador is one of only five cyclists to win the Tour, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta.
"How can this affect my career any more?" he said. "My career has already been so affected by everything. The (Spanish) committee has to understand that the proposed resolution is not just."