Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of Spain was suspended on Thursday after failing a dope test, in the latest drug scandal to hit cycling’s most prestigious event.
Cycling superstar Contador, who won his third yellow jersey at the end of July’s three-week epic, announced that he had tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance, but blamed it on food contamination.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) swiftly announced he had been provisionally suspended after the news broke in Australia.
The UCI confirmed that only a “very small concentration” of the drug had been found and that the case warranted “further scientific investigation” because the Cologne laboratory that detected the substance is known to be able to detect the tiniest traces of drugs.
“The rider, who had already put an end to his cycling season before the result was known, was nevertheless formally and provisionally suspended as is prescribed by the World Anti-Doping Code,” a statement said.
“The concentration found by the laboratory was estimated at 50 picograms which is 400 times less than what the antidoping laboratories accredited by WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) must be able to detect,” it said.
There are a trillion picograms in a gram.
Contador’s announcement was issued through his personal press officer as world cyclists gathered in the Australian port of Geelong this week for the Road Race World Championships.
“Alberto Contador is affected by a doping control at the last Tour de France on July 21, where the substance clenbuterol was found,” a statement from his press officer said.
“From the time of the first communication from the UCI on August 24, Alberto Contador alleged food contamination as the only possible explanation of what happened.”
The message added that Contador has consulted with a number of experts, who have all agreed that the “tiny amount of clenbuterol detected” suggested that the cyclist has fallen victim to food contamination.
“The experts consulted so far have agreed also that this is a food contamination case, especially considering the number of (doping) tests undergone by Alberto Contador during the Tour de France.
“This makes it possible to define precisely both the time of the emergence of the substance and the tiny amount detected, ruling out any other source or intentionality.”
The doping control in question was carried on July 21, during the second rest day of the Tour De France in Pau, at the foot of the French Pyrenees.
The following day, Contador secured overall victory by finishing in the same time as main rival Andy Schleck of Luxembourg at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet.
Although a banned substance, positive tests from clenbuterol have resulted in different outcomes for athletes in the past.
It has been shown in the past that trace elements of the drug found in the human body can be attributed to food contamination.
If the drug is found in larger amounts it usually points to deliberate doping.
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