Contador able to remain confident after Netherlands’ ruling
Due to the outcome of another Clenbuterol postive, Alberto Contador will take comfort in Spain’s decision to acquit him of charges against him. In a similar case, the Netherlands’ acquitted mountain biker Rudi van Houts, according to announcement by his lawyer yesterday.
Van Houts tested positive in an out-of-competition control for the weight-loss drug after returning from training Mexico. Once the B sample was confirmed, the Dutch cycling federation (KNWU) suspended the 26-year-old.
According to Van Houts, the 30 picograms of Clenbuterol in his body came from eating contaminated meat. Previously, table tennis player Dimitrij Ovtcharov and three-time Tour winner Contador also tested positive for a minimal amount of Clenbuterol – 75pg and 50pg, respectively. Both have since been acquitted.
All three athletes are free to compete at present, although the Van Houts and Contador decisions are open to appeal. Contador made his return at the Volta ao Algarve stage race in February and will race the Volta a Catalunya next week.
“That’s a load off my mind,” Van Houts told Dutch news outlet, NOS.
“It was a very difficult period, but I’m glad that it is now behind us. I can race again.”
Van Houts hopes to return to race with German team, Multivan-Merida, where raced the past two seasons.
“There was Clenbuterol in Van Houts’ body,” said Herman Ram of KNWU’s Doping Authority. “In this case, the disciplinary committee ruled on the request of Van Houts and the advice of the Doping Authority. He knew it was a violation, but Van Houts could not be blamed.”
The International Cycling Union (UCI) may appeal the Netherlands’ decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It is expected to do so in Contador’s case and has until March 24 to decide. One obvious difference with the Ovtcharov and Van Houts cases is that he was competing in Europe, where there are tighter controls over Clenbuterol use in livestock.