Alberto Contador has reacted positively to the news that he has been cleared of any responsibility for the presence of a trace amount of banned substance clenbuterol during his victory in last year’s Tour de France. While riding for Astana, the Spaniard tested positive on the race’s second rest day but claimed that he must have ingested the substance via a contaminated steak that he had eaten.
His explanation has been accepted by the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) and, pending an appeal from either the International Cycling Union (UCI) or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), he is now clear to race.
"First of all, I'm relieved and obviously happy about this ruling,” said Contador. “It has been some very stressful months for me, but throughout the case I have been totally available for all inquiries in relation to my case, and all the way through I have spoken in accordance with the truth. To both the team and the authorities I have explained, that I never cheated or deliberately took a banned substance.”
Team owner Bjarne Riis is, unsurprisingly, also very happy with the news that his star rider has been cleared. With the exodus of a number of his top riders last year, including Tour runner-up Andy Schleck, at the end of the season, much of the Dane’s team’s fortunes depend on Contador in 2011.
"This decision is indeed proof that the relevant authorities do not find grounds for believing that Alberto Contador has committed any intentional doping offence,” said Riis, “which is absolutely vital for us. So I'm obviously happy on behalf of Alberto and the team. We take note of this decision and fully respect it, but we're also sensitive to the fact, that the parties of this case still have the right to appeal this decision.”
Although Riis admitted doping in his own riding career, specifically when he won the Tour himself in 1996, the Danish team maintains a strict anti-doping policy. Now that his star rider is eligible to race, Riis emphasised that the team will continue to do its utmost in the fight against doping.
"I really want to take this opportunity to emphasize again that nothing in our values has changed,” he said. “We're still a team that strongly condemn all kind of cheating, including doping. But we will at all times also be a fair team. It is of great importance, that we don't equate conscious cheating and an accidental intake of a banned substance."
With Contador eligible to race with immediate effect he is likely to start in the Volta ao Algarve, which starts tomorrow. He won the five-day race last year by 30 seconds over compatriot Luis León Sanchez.