Spanish cycling federation seeks input in Contador case
The Spanish cycling federation is seeking feedback from the International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency before ruling on Alberto Contador's doping case, the national body's president said Monday.
Contador faces a possible two-year ban and loss of last year's Tour de France title after a positive drug test that the Spanish cyclist blamed on eating contaminated meat.
Spanish cycling chief Juan Carlos Castano told The Associated Press that his federation hopes to rule on Contador's case by the end of January but is first waiting to hear the views of experts from both cycling's governing body and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
"We don't want the UCI or WADA to rule on the case -- the disciplinary committee just considers the opinion of both the UCI and WADA's experts as being important for the sake of the athlete," Castano said in a telephone interview. "We just want various opinions so we can take the best decision possible."
Castano stressed that his organization is not trying to duck its responsibility. The national body has been accused of being too lenient on its own athletes in previous doping cases, and Castano was among a number of high-level officials in Spain who supported Contador immediately after his positive case was disclosed.
The UCI said Monday it had received all documents in the case from the Spanish federation, known as the RFEC, in December and was processing the scientific review request. The Swiss body said it would provide its results as quickly as possible.
"This is completely standard practice," the UCI said in a statement. "The UCI however reiterates that the RFEC's action is purely consultative as the responsibility for the decision at this stage of a disciplinary procedure lies solely with the rider's national federation.
"If necessary, the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency have the option to appeal the RFEC's decision."
The Swiss body said it expects to submit a response by Jan. 24, although that could be extended since documents would have to be translated.
Contador, a three-time Tour champion and winner of the Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta, tested positive during a rest day at last year's Tour. He claims he ingested the muscle-building, weight-loss drug clenbuterol inadvertently after eating beef.
Clenbuterol is considered a zero-tolerance drug by WADA.
"This is not the most difficult case the federation has ever had to rule on but it is definitely the most complex," Castano said. "It is especially complicated. It's not like when we have a decision that one of the sides will be satisfied with it."
Contador, who also won the Tour in 2007 and 2009, signed a two-year deal to race for Saxo Bank from this season.