Contador to learn his fate next week

The Court of Arbitration for Sport have announced they intend to publish their ruling on Alberto Contador’s alleged doping at the start of next week.

The Swiss court had been due to make public their verdict on the case this week but are now set to make the announcement on Monday, 6 February, although CAS say they will confirm in the coming days the exact date and time.

Contador, the Tour de France champion in 2007, 2009 and 2010, tested positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour.

The 29-year-old Spaniard blamed the result on contaminated beef. The positive result was revealed in September 2010 and the Spanish Cycling Federation initially proposed giving the rider a one-year ban before subsequently acquitting him.

The International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency both appealed that decision to CAS and the case has dragged into a third calendar year.

A CAS statement today read: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport intends to publish its decision on Monday 6 February 2012.

“A confirmation as to the date and time of the publication of the decision will be given by the CAS at the end of this week.”