The 29-year-old from Spain, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour, will miss this year's event as his suspension runs to August 6.

Contador, who was also the Tour de France winner in 2007 and 2009, faces losing his 2011 Giro d'Italia title and all the other victories he claimed last season.

The CAS suspended the Spaniard after rejecting his claim that his positive test for clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat.

The three-man CAS panel upheld appeals by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which challenged a Spanish cycling tribunal's decision last year to exonerate Contador.

Contador blamed steak bought from a Basque producer for his high reading of clenbuterol, which is sometimes used by farmers to fatten up their livestock.


CAS said both the meat contamination theory and a blood transfusion scenario for the positive test were "possible" but "equally unlikely".

"The presence of clenbuterol was more likely caused by the ingestion of a contaminated food supplement," CAS said in its ruling here.

"The Panel found that there were no established facts that would elevate the possibility of meat contamination to an event that could have occurred on a balance of probabilities.

"Unlike certain other countries, notably outside Europe, Spain is not known to have a contamination problem with clenbuterol in meat.

"Furthermore, no other cases of athletes having tested positive to clenbuterol allegedly in connection with the consumption of Spanish meat are known."

CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb (pictured below reading out the decision) claimed the doping offence was "not contested," only the explanation for how the clenbuterol got into Contador's system.


"It is just the application of the rules, the fact that there was a positive test," Reeb said.

"In the end, it is not so spectacular.

"There is a clear decision based on a positive test.

"There was no reason to exonerate the athlete, so the sanction is two years."

Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) President Juan Carlos Castano immediately criticised the decision.

"We are obliged to comply with it but we don't agree with it," he said.

"It's very bad news for Spanish sport.

"For us this journey has ended."

CAS backdated Contador's ban and he is eligible to return to competition later this year. 

That ban means Contador will miss the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and London 2012, but he would be eligible to ride in the Spanish Vuelta, which is due to begin on August 18.

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who finished second to Contador by 39 seconds, looks set to be elevated to Tour de France champion for 2010.

Contador could also face a big financial penalty.

CAS said it would rule later on a request by UCI to fine Contador €2.4 million (£1.9 million/$3.25 million).


UCI President Pat McQuaid (pictured above with Contador) claimed he felt no sense of triumph at the decision.

"This is a sad day for our sport," he said.

"Some may think of it as a victory, but that is not at all the case.

"There are no winners when it comes to the issue of doping: every case, irrespective of its characteristics, is always a case too many."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2012: Judgement day set for Contador's doping case
January 2012: Contador to finally discover fate next week
February 2011: UCI President wants to review Contador case before passing judgement
January 2011: Contador facing one year doping ban
October 2010: Small amount doesn't mean Contador wasn't cheating says drugs chief