ICC to appeal Contador ruling

The International Cycling Union (UCI) have confirmed they will appeal against the Spanish cycling federation's decision to acquit Alberto Contador after the three-time Tour de France winner tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol last year.

The Spanish federation (RFEC) cleared Contador of any doping offence earlier this year following the positive test on a Tour rest day last July.

The rider claimed the banned substance had entered his system through the consumption of contaminated meat.

The UCI have now appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the RFEC's ruling.

A statement from the sport's world governing body read: "The International Cycling Union (UCI) today decided - within the time frame stipulated by the regulations - to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne against the Spanish Cycling Federation's (RFEC) finding in the case of Alberto Contador.

"He was acquitted after testing positive for clenbuterol during an in-competition test carried out on July 21, 2010.

"The decision to appeal comes after an in-depth study of the file received from the RFEC."