Alberto Contador may be free to ride Tour de France
Alberto Contador may be free to compete in the Tour de France after a hearing over the rider's positive doping test has been delayed, a spokesman for the Spaniard has said.
Under scrutiny: question marks remain over Alberto Contador as he rides at the Giro d'Italia Photo: AP
By John MacLeary 11:02AM BST 26 May 2011
Contador had originally been due to face a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in the first week of June after the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had appealed the decision by the Spanish National Cycling Federation (RFEC) to clear the rider of doping at last year's Tour.
The 28 year-old, who won his third Tour in July 2010, tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during a rest day at last year's three-week stage race before claiming he had ingested contaminated meat brought over the border from his homeland.
The news that Contador had tested positive was not released for over two months after the race had finished and the ongoing saga, now, appears likely to overshadow this year's race.
CAS originally said the hearing would take place before the world's biggest bike race starts in the Vendée region on July 2.
"CAS envisages to hold a hearing in June," they said. "Which would allow the settlement of the dispute before the end of June," the court said.
However, a spokesman for Cantador has said the hearing may not take place before the race and so allow the Saxo Bank-SunGard rider to compete.
"What is clear is that the dates of June 6, 7, 8 for the hearing are no longer applicable," said Jacinto Vidarte. "It's not at all clear whether the hearing will even take place before the Tour de France.
"Next week, there will be a meeting to provisionally set up possible dates for the hearing."
Contador is currently racing in Italy where he leads the Giro d'Italia.
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