Tour de France winner addresses press conference, proclaims innocence and expects to be cleared
Just hours after his positive control for banned substance clenbuterol was announced, Tour de France winner Alberto Contador spoke to a hastily arranged press conference. It took place in 27-year-old’s hometown of Pinto, just outside Madrid, where just two months before he had made his triumphal homecoming with his third yellow yersey.
A clearly emotional Contador, his voice shaking a little, repeated to the World’s media that he must have induced the substance via some beef that he’d had brought over the Pyrénées from Spain.
“This is a clear case of food contamination,” he said.
The Astana rider confirmed that his case was currently being reviewed by the International Cycling Union (UCI), due to both its unusual nature and the high profile issue of a rider of his stature testing positive.
“The UCI is in contact with the International Doping Agency [the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) – ed] to try not to commit a scientific mistake,” he said, “due to the individuality of this case.
“This case cannot be compared to any other case of clenbuterol,” he continued, “because I was the leader of the Tour de France.”
Such a tiny amount, he claimed, could only have come into his system in this way; one would expect a trace amount such as this to be the remains of a previously higher concentration. Tests before this one prove otherwise, he claims.
“I passed a test before July 21st,” he said. On July 20th I passed a test – the day before.”
Contador emphasised his intention to fight to clear his name, even though his successful career so far has brought him enough money to settle down for life.
“I’m not going to let a thing like this ruin everything; sincerely,” he said, “my life is settled, I don’t need to prove anything, but I cannot permit this. I cannot throw everything into the bin and not fight and stop doing what I love to do.
“So, sincerely, I don’t think it’s going to be easy, but I don’t expect it to affect me.”
The three-time Tour winner, who would become a two-time winner if the positive test is confirmed, is confident that the UCI and WADA will decide in his favour though.
“I trust and believe in the UCI and the International Doping Agency [WADA],” he said, “in their professionalism and experts, to clear all this. And referring to my name being questioned, it’s always complicated when cases like this one show up.”
If the positive test is upheld Contador faces the prospect of becoming only the second rider in history to be stripped of his Tour title, after Floyd Landis, and a likely two year ban from the sport.