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Contador...Gone!


shano's picture

By shano - Posted on 07 February 2012

Dicko's picture

A bit of a joke when they back date the ban. Even though he doesn't get the race results from the past - he will be back cycling / competing in 6 mths.

Logan's picture

Ban imposed from the original suspension date from RFEC which was 1st Jan 2011, minus off the time that he had already been suspended provisionally, which was about 5 months or so after it came out about the positive news, take that off the two years and hence he is back in time for Vuelta.

Tbh it is not to different to when someone has been behind bars for 3 months pending trial and a judge gives them a 3 month sentence, so they are released immediately. Whilst I think its good, the maximum he could be banned is 2 years and he will of served that. Saxo Bank are pretty much screwed really as well, no UCI Points for Contador means unless one of their other riders steps up they could struggle for a license renewal.

Also Contador should be sacked immediately by Saxo Bank, they have an automatic clause in their contracts which state any doping offences will result in a contract termination. Contador is the big loser here, he could still get hit with over 2m Euro fine + the UCI Costs and his costs as well for his legal team, which wont be cheap.

duncanallin's picture

The Spainish are dodgy for over turning the ban. These idiots give the sport a bad name. I don't think the ban is long enough.

SpokeyDokey's picture

I need to find his butcher. Could push me under the 9 hour mark for this year's Fling.

cRAZY Canuck's picture

Untill the UCI really takes this seriously and starts handing out life time bans people will still dope. They probably will still but if they do kick'm out on their arse.

Wonder how Sastra's going to go this year........

Logan's picture
Ray R's picture

Likening his two year suspension being back dated to somebody who has been in remand (ie gaol!) is not quite right. Contador has been out racing and affecting results. Although any of his results have been overturned, he's still been out there racing. It should be 2 years from now.

the.flying.al's picture

It doesn't really allow many conclusions to be made, and from what I can understand the conclusion was that it was likely to be accidental ingestion of a contaminated sporting supplement - this was the UCI conclusion (as reported - is the transcript of the ruling published anywhere?)

From what I had read (Ride magazine had a pretty damning article) it looked like Contador had used clenbuterol in the off season, but had not allowed it to fully be excreted before he removed a portion of his blood to be stored for a later self transfusion. He transfused this blood on the rest day leading which was picked up in the blood test.

The labs also found plasticisers in his blood consistent with self transfusion. However these test results could not form part of the legal case because the test method had not undergone inter laboratory validation, which all methods are subjected to before they can be used in court. The explanation of contaminated meat was unlikely because the drug doesn't accumulate in meat, but rather other organs (he should have said he had liver for breakfast and kidney pie for lunch).

So it is strange that the UCI passed a "no fault" verdict, with the ban resulting because if clenbuterol is found at any level than a ban results, regardless of the explanation.

As much as had doubts that Contador's climbing was natural, from the UCI ruling I am not sure whether to feel sorry for him or call him a cheat.

herzog's picture

Probably they were making as conservative judgement as possible to avoid legal action.

FWIW, I think Contador and his ilk should be banned for life, and have to pay back all prize money and sponsorships.

Otherwise, the risk/reward ratio encourages doping.

Little-Ditty's picture

Yes, but he is now a proven/convicted doper. This will really tarnish his image, curtail his ongoing sponsorships, and justifyably bring into question his previous TDF win as well. The history books will correctly record his character, I think.

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