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| "Eat this RFEC!" |
Spyns former clients couldn't be described as Alberto Contador fans, however, we the man has talent. He's also proving to be quite the Spanish scrapper. A "disgusted" Alberto Contador hit out at the Spanish federation whom he accused of buckling to pressure from anti-doping authorities after it proposed he serve a one-year ban from cycling. The future of the three-time Tour de France champion has hung in the balance since he announced last August he had tested positive for traces of the banned substance clenbuterol during last July's race. Despite repeatedly denying taking any banned substances, blaming the result on food contamination, it increasingly looks like stage racing's biggest talent will be banned.
As Spyns prepares for its 2011 Tour de France trips, the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) made a proposal last month to ban Contador for a year, an offer which was seen by experts as a compromise deal. This would make Andy Schleck the favourite to win the 2011. He's also a favourite among Spyns former clients. Contador, however, immediately vowed to appeal the ban as he had done nothing wrong. He now believes the RFEC was pressured into making the proposal by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and feels "let down" by his federation's failure to clear him. "The UCI and WADA exerted a lot of pressure before that proposal" from the RFEC was made on January 26," the Spaniard said in an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE on Thursday.
"The RFEC knows I've always advocated an anti-doping stance. Everyone knows what's going on, but now I'm in a position where I'm facing a ban. It really makes you lose confidence" in the system. "I'm disgusted... I feel really let down by the attitude of the federation. This case has become way too politicised and it has prejudiced my case." He added: "The federation has our entire dossier. It is a long and comprehensive work which clears everything up. "They could have consulted an article which proves my innocence, but they haven't and for that I am disappointed," he told EFE. A defiant Contador said he would fight any future ban all the way: "I'm ready for whichever battle comes up." The RFEC is soon expected to confirm the length of Contador's sanction.
If however the Spanish cycling authorities fail to ban Contador, the UCI, which is understood to want to apply the anti-doping rules to the letter, would likely appeal to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to ban the Spaniard. The 28-year-old, who is also a former winner of the Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain, would then lose his 2010 Tour de France victory. Clenbuterol is a banned weight loss/muscle-building drug which is also used to fatten cattle. Contador claims he ate a steak that was contaminated by the drug. The substance was banned by the European Union in 1996 but it is still administered illicitly by some cattle farmers.
Did he or didn't he? That is the question. As we prepare for our 2011 Tour de France tours, Contador is fighting for survival and shows no signs of giving up.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
