Rider will ride Tour unless ASO blocks his participation
Saxo Bank SunGard rider Alberto Contador looks likely to ride this year’s Tour de France, even if he is ultimately suspended for his Clenbuterol positive in the 2010 edition of the race.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed the suggestions earlier today that the previously-scheduled dates had been changed. Spanish newspaper AS suggested the hearing would take place in either July or September, thus past the start point of the Tour de France.
In a statement issued this afternoon, CAS suggests all parties concerned had agreed to the change. “Following the agreement between the Appellants and the Respondents, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has accepted to postpone the hearing in this matter in order to give to all parties concerned reasonable time to prepare for such hearing and to guarantee the participation in person of witnesses and experts.
“Accordingly, the CAS Panel has decided to cancel the hearing initially scheduled for 6-7-8 June 2011.
New hearing dates will be fixed as soon as possible.”
Whatever the outcome, the situation is likely to be a damaging one for the sport. The rider will begin the Tour with a question mark over him, and uncertainty about his previous win. If he is ultimately deemed guilty, he will lose his 2010 title, and his results since then would also be under threat.
The only barrier to his participation at this point would seem to be Tour organisers ASO. Their response is now awaited.
In the meantime, Contador looks set to win the Giro d’Italia. He is aiming to be the first rider to take the Giro-Tour double since Marco Pantani in 1998.