Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) has spoken out about the Lance Armstrong doping revelations saying the sport needs to look to the future and not the past. The Spaniard who returned from a doping ban this year, was speaking on Spanish television. He said the evidence against Armstrong needs to be studied and then the relevant measures need to be taken so that the sport can move on.
“A certain number of things are being said and in the end we have to look at what there is and what there is not, the different institutions and measures that need to be taken,” Contador told Canal Plus.
“And then as far as the rest goes we have to focus only and exclusively on the present and future of this fine sport.”
Despite always maintaining his innocence, Contador returned in August from a two year retroactive ban after testing positive for Clenbutorol during the 2010 Tour de France, a race he won but was later disqualified from. After coming back with Saxo Bank Tinkof Bank, he won his national Grand Tour, the Vuelta A España.
The 29 year old was teammates with Armstrong during 2009 at Astana and it was often reported that the two did not get along. Contador has also previously worked with Armstrong’s co-accused Johan Bruyneel and Jose “Pepe” Marti. He turned professional with the ONCE team at the start of 2002. He currently rides for Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, the team owned by Bjarne Riis who has admitted doping on his way to winning the 1996 Tour de France.
The International Cycling Union will hold a press conference on Monday when it will rule on the US Anti-Doping Agency’s dossier accusing Armstrong and others of running the sports most sophisticated doping programme.