UCI insist Contador ban term not yet final

THE International Cycling Union yesterday moved to clarify that the one-year suspension for Alberto Contador, announced by his spokesperson on Wednesday night, is only a proposed ban by the Spanish Cycling Federation.

Contador tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol on the second rest day, July 21, of last year’s Tour de France, but has maintained his innocence, claiming the substance was in some contaminated meat.

As a result, the three-time Tour champion was provisionally suspended by the UCI, who commissioned the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) to open disciplinary proceedings against him.