Alberto Contador

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has been banned from the sport for two years by the Court of Arbitration, after his positive test for clenbuterol, according to the International Cycling Union.

Contador, who won the Tour De France in 2007 and 2009 failed a doping test in September 2010, shortly after winning his third title.

The 29-year-old has always maintained his innocence and claimed he failed the test after eating contaminated meat and the Spanish Cycling Federation initially suggested giving the rider a one-year ban before subsequently acquitting him.

But the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency both appealed that decision to CAS.

A statement from the UCI read: “The UCI acknowledges the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to impose a suspension of two years on the rider Alberto Contador following the UCI’s appeal, brought in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in the case concerning the Spanish cyclist.

“In rejecting the defence argument, in particular that the presence of clenbuterol in Alberto Contador’s urine sample came from the consumption of contaminated meat, today’s ruling confirms the UCI’s position.

“However, the UCI has not derived a sense of satisfaction from the CAS ruling, but rather welcomes the news as the end of a long-running affair that has been extremely painful for cycling.”

UCI president Pat McQuaid added: “This is a sad day for our sport. 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.”