Three-time Tour de France winner battles doping investigation to race again
Spaniard Alberto Contador is racing again, seven months after he won a third Tour de France and a day after he was cleared of doping by his national federation. Yesterday, he finished the first stage of the Volta ao Algarve, a race he has won for the last two years.
The 28-year-old, now racing for Saxo Bank-SunGard, said that he was well received by his peers. If there were any negative comments, he failed to hear them.
“I have not heard anything,” he told Italian newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It was a great day for me. I returned to racing, and that is what I wanted the most, just having fun.
“The group? I was well received, I have many friends.”
Belgian Philippe Gilbert (OmegaPharma-Lotto) won the stage in Albufeira ahead of German Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step). Contador finished in the main group, next to Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo), in 28th.
It’s not certain he will race for the entire season. The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) acquitted him two days ago, one day before the Portuguese stage race started. He faced a likely two-year ban and loss of his third Tour de France title because he tested positive for Clenbuterol. The drug helps breathing and weight loss, Contador tested positive for it on the second rest day at the Tour de France.
“Whoever says that my acquittal is an injustice is wrong,” Contador said. “Injustice is represented by those convicted in cases similar to mine.”
Contador’s urine showed 50 picograms per millilitre of Clenbuterol, equal to 0.000 000 000 05 grams per ml. Italian cyclist Alessandro Colò and Chinese cyclist Fuyu Li both received suspensions for similar amounts of the drug. However, German table tennis player, Dimitrij Ovtcharov was acquitted by his national federation. Just as with Contador, he faced a likely appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). However, last week, WADA said would not appeal the German’s case.
“I do not know if the UCI and the WADA will appeal,” added Contador. “It is their right, but I hope that before moving ahead, they study the documents that we have given to the Spanish Federation.”
An appeal could derail Contador’s season and any chance of racing for a fourth Tour de France title. UCI president, Pat McQuaid said that he would push for a quick outcome. He added that the UCI is still waiting for all the documentation from the RFEC. Contador is keeping an eye on the legal battle, but trying to train and race.
“It’s too soon to draw up a programme,” said Contador. “The idea is to race the Vuelta a Murcia. Giro? Tour? We will talk about those later.”