Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) passed a relatively uneventful day on the bike, successfully defending his lead in the Volta a Catalunya. After he crossed the finish line however, he learned that the International Cycling Union (UCI) intends to appeal to the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) against his acquittal over the positive test for clenbuterol that he returned at last year’s Tour de France.
While the decision must be far from welcome, the Spanish rider remains outwardly philosophical, saying that he believes “that things happen because they have to pass. Maybe we should go to TAS to prove that my innocence is even clearer.
“I knew the UCI’s decision when I reached the finish line,” he explained. “Today was just another day”, he said, “now I don’t like the situation, but I am confident in all the arguments that have given my lawyers. I fully trust them.”
Having been cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC), Contador hoped that he had heard the last of the matter. He now faces the possible prospect of a two-year suspension once more, as well as the loss of his Tour corwn.
“I wish that there were no appeal or that they will act with more logic, but as I said before, if this happens is because it has to pass, and I have full confidence in solving the case at the CAS".
Contador currently leads the Volta a Catalunya, having also won the Vuelta a Murcia so far this season. Having previously been cleared, the Saxo Bank-SunGard rider had planned his season, and despite the news of the UCI’s appeal he declared that he will continue “with my program as I have done so far."
Having received the full support his team, Contador is outwardly confident that the case will be decided in his favour, noting that: the UCI “has had time to see all documentation submitted and I am sure they never, never have seen documentation like that we have submitted; maybe that's why they have not decided until the last day, although experts and scientists know clearly that there is not a doping case.”
With his case ongoing, as well as the talk of a number of teams planning to breakaway from the UCI – including his own – Contador concluded with the understatement that the sport “has to consider many things right now.”