Alberto Contador is likely to miss this year’s Tour de France because of the time the investigation into his positive doping test could take, International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid said on Tuesday.
Three-times Tour champion Contador, provisionally suspended after failing a doping test during last year’s race, will probably be out of shape or not even cleared to participate in the world’s greatest cycling race, McQuaid said.
“It is not a good place to be for Contador at the moment,” McQuaid said in a telephone interview. “We could assume that it’s a possibility that he will not be at the Tour de France.”
Spaniard Contador’s case is in the hands of the Spanish federation, whose ruling on the matter is not expected before the end of the month.
The Spanish federation has requested the UCI’s expertise on the case and the sport’s governing body is trying its best to get back to the Spanish federation “by the end of the month,” McQuaid said.
However, the Spanish federation’s decision is very likely to be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport by either Contador, should he be handed a suspension, or by the UCI or the World Anti-Doping Agency if the Spaniards were to clear the five-time grand Tour champion.
A ruling before the start of the Tour in July is not guaranteed under these circumstances.
“It is possibly correct that this is what will happen,” McQuaid said.
While suspended, Contador, who has threatened to quit should he be punished, cannot take part in any competitive race and the possible appeal process before arbitration court is likely to take months, dramatically hampering the rider’s preparations for this year’s Tour.
He has repeatedly protested his innocence, blaming contaminated meat for the traces of banned stimulant clenbuterol found in his urine sample.
McQuaid is not worried for the sport and believes this season will be exciting, even without Contador and seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Armstrong will take part in the Tour Down Under this month, but the week-long event is expected to be his last international competitive appearance.
The Armstrong versus Contador rivalry was a hot topic in the 2009 Tour and both riders were the top attractions in last year’s race even if the American quickly lost all hope of winning an unprecedented eighth title.
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