From CTV News:

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Monday Feb. 6, 2012 9:13 AM ET

Doping allegations continue to mar the world of cycling, as a champion of the sport's most prestigious race has been stripped of his title.

Alberto Contador has lost his 2010 yellow jersey, making him the second Tour de France winner-turned-loser after being found guilty of using a banned substance.

The Spanish cyclist was also suspended for two years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that he had ingested clenbuterol – a stimulant similar to ephedrine used to increase one's heart rate.

Contador had claimed that he tested positive for clenbuterol after eating contaminated meat.

Last year, a Spanish cycling tribunal decided to exonerate Contador. The International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency responded by launching appeals.

The CAS upheld those appeals on Monday, saying in a ruling that, "The presence of clenbuterol was more likely caused by the ingestion of a contaminated food supplement."

Contador's suspension makes him the second Tour de France champion to have his title stripped for doping. American Floyd Landis lost his 2006 title after testing positive for testosterone.

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg finished behind Contador at the 2010 Tour de France and will be retroactively credited with the victory. The Spaniard, meanwhile, will also be stripped of his 2011 Giro d'Italia victory.

Contador had previously won the Tour de France in 2007 and 2009. He is one of only five cyclists to have won the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia (in 2008) and the Spanish Vuelta (in 2008).

Because the CAS backdated his suspension, he is eligible to return to competitive cycling on Aug. 6, meaning he will miss the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the 2012 Olympics in London.

He would be eligible to return for the Spanish Vuelta, however, as that race gets underway on Aug. 18.

Contador has blamed a steak he had purchased from a Basque producer for containing the banned substance. Clenbuteral is sometimes used to fatten livestock.

The CAS ruled that while the contaminated meat scenario was possible, it also wasn't likely. Instead it concluded there were no established facts to support his theory, noting that no other athletes had tested positive for clenbuteral due to the consumption of Spanish meat.

International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid described the decision as a "sad day for our sport."

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

Contador tested positive during a rest day on July 21, 2010, but the results were not confirmed publicly two months later when he was suspended pending an investigation.

In February 2011, the Spanish cycling federation cleared Contador of the allegations and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke out in defence of the national icon.

The International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency appealed, ultimately leading to Monday's decision and the two-year ban.

The CAS said it would consider a request to fine Contador US$3.25 million.

With files from The Associated Press

Link:
Contador stripped of 2010 Tour de France title | CTV News