After concerns that the Alberto Contador appeal could drag on past the start date of the Tour de France, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that it has received the UCI’s application and, provided both sides cooperate, could deliver a judgement before the start of July.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has today officially registered the appeal of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI),” it indicated to VeloNation today. “A copy of the appeal has also been transmitted today to counsel for the RFEC and for Mr Contador. The parties will now have the opportunity to file written submissions including all their arguments and evidence.
“The CAS Secretary General has informed the parties that the CAS would be ready to establish a procedural calendar allowing for the settlement of the dispute before the end of June 2011.”
Secretary General Matthieu Reeb previously indicated that there was a chance that the process could drag on past the Tour start date. However he said today that he believed a decision could be reached in time.
“The "calendar" with an end in June would be possible under the normal rules but it is tight. We could shorten the time limits but only with the agreement of the parties,” he told VeloNation.
The World Anti Doping Agency has a further three weeks to decide if it too will agree. However even if it takes that full amount of time, Reeb said that it wouldn’t impact on the timeframe.
“Wada could request to join in the procedure at a later stage. In principle, it should not affect the calendar,” he confirmed.
Contador tested positive for Clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France He denies having deliberately taken the banned substance, and was cleared by the Spanish federation RFEC in mid-February.
Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme and UCI president Pat McQuaid have both said that they want a decision before this year’s race.