The long-running Contador case has huge ramifications for the future of the sport's credibility.

So far he has escaped a ban after arguing since day one that traces of clenbuterol entered his system while eating steaks on the Tour's second rest day brought in from nearby Spain.

A recent surge in clenbuterol positives, including among footballers at last year's Gold Cup and Under-17 World Cup, has bolstered his stance that eating contaminated meat can trigger a positive.

"The case is due to take place week beginning January 30," a CAS spokesman confirmed to insidethegames.

Contador, three-time Tour de France winner, was cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation a year ago but both the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are pushing for sanctions.

Originally, the date of the final ruling was set for November but the CAS blamed recent media allegations regarding members of the arbitration panel for the delay in proceedings.

According to those reports, one of the legal teams had threatened to quit in a row over the Israeli chairman of the panel.

Contador, due to attend what could be a four-day hearing, faces a possible two-year ban but in the build-up to the hearing, the CAS issued a statement expressing its "great disappointment" over the reasons for the delay.

"The rumours are said to involve lawyers representing parties who are against Contador," said the CAS spokesman.

"We don't know the origin.

"What we do now know is that no parties have any objections to the panel which can now finish its work."

A final decision from the panel will not be expected until several weeks after the hearing.

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