Alberto Contador has been officially cleared of all charges relating to the positive clenbuterol test at last year's Tour de France.This comes after 6 long months of rumors, news reports, and statements but Contador's story has always remained the same.
"I have done nothing wrong"
It looks like he was finally able to convince the Spanish Cycling Federation. Or even if he wasn't, his defense was so well thought out that they almost had to clear him.
Nearly everyone is in agreement that the clenbuterol entered the bloodstream via tainted meat, but that fact alone would not be enough to clear Contador of the blame. But here's what did the trick...
According to rule 296 set by the UCI, a rider can not be suspended unless either intent or negligence can be proven. But since Spanish beef is supposed to be tested beforehand, Contador would have had no reason to suspect anything was wrong with the steak and therefore can not be called "negligent" to the condition of the beef.
Of course, it's not completely over. The UCI now has to decide whether or not they will file their own appeal to the decision of the Spanish Cycling Federation, and could propose a ban of their own.
But as of right now, Contador is free and clear and he is already back in action in Algarve.
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