Contador doping issue likely to land before Arbitration court

Mumbai, Feb 10 (PTI) The issue of culpability of threetimes Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who is facing aone-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance, islikely to land before Court of Arbitration for Sport, said PatMcQuaid, International Cycling Union (UCI) President.

"The Spanish Cycling Federation had recommended aone-year ban on Contador. However, he won''t accept it andhas presented some new facts. Spanish Association will take adecision in a day or two after which we get till the end ofFebruary to go to the arbitrator," McQuaid told PTI.

McQuaid was here yesterday to oversee the preparationsfor ''Tour de Mumbai'', the upcoming two-stage cycling event.

Contador tested positive for clenbuterol at last year''sTour de France, which he had won. However, the ace cyclistpleaded innocence, claiming that contaminated meat wasresponsible for his being testing positive.

If found guilty, Contador will be stripped of his title.

Asked about the allegations of doping levelled againstseven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong by formerchampion Floyd Landis, McQuaid said it could be out offrustration.

"Landis is the first champion who was caught andsuspended. He feels he is a victim as others have gottenaway....but there''s a bit of revenge in what he says," hesaid.

McQuaid said though doping has been the bane of cyclingfor long, it is not the only sport to suffer from it.

"Cheating is involved in all sports and in all facets oflife. The UCI is the most advanced sports organisation in theworld in terms of technology against doping, and we spent over5.5 million Euro on fight against doping last year," hesaid.