Alberto Contador Found Guilty Of Doping, May Appeal 2-Year Ban

A day after sport’s highest court handed down a two-year, retroactive ban of Alberto Contador for his positive drug test during the 2010 Tour de France that he eventually won, the cyclist reiterated his declaration of innocence and said he may appeal the ban. Cantador also said that he has shelved any plans to retire.

As it stands now, the only way Cantador could get his third Tour de France and last season’s Giro de Italia titles restored is for him to take his appeal to Switzerland’s supreme court -- the only one above Court of Arbitration for Sport, which handed down Monday’s ruling. Cantador has maintained his innocence throughout the process, claiming that he only had a small amount of a muscle-building steroid in his system and that he contracted it from a contaminated piece of meat (via the Associated Press).

Alberto Contador was originally cleared of doping allegations in February 2011 following his win at the 2010 Tour de France, but an appeals court changed that ruling on Monday morning. The new findings mean that runner-up Andy Schleck will be known as the 2010 Tour de France champion.

Contador was banned for two years following the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, according to a report in the New York Times. Considering Contador quit racing for a time in between the original suspension and last February’s findings that he didn’t cheat, however, the suspension is scheduled to end on Aug. 5, 2012.

In January, Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France win after a positive test for clenbuterol. On Tuesday, however, it has been announced that the 28-year-old Spaniard has been cleared of doping charges and will retain his title. From the Associated Press:

Contador had claimed that a meal containing contaminated meat was to blame for his positive test. Our cycling blog, Podium Cafe, offers a look at what’s next for all parties involved:

Back in September, three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador tested positive for a banned substance. On Wednesday, the Spanish cyclist received his punishment. Contador was handed a one-year ban from cycling and he’s been stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title. He has 10 days to appeal.

If the ruling is upheld, Contador will be just the second Tour champion to be stripped of his title, joining American Floyd Landis, who lost his 2006 title for doping. And it would mean the 2010 winner would then be Andy Schleck, who finished second.