Cycling: Alberto Contador sets sights on Olympics

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador, who is awaiting the outcome of a doping appeal hearing, has said he will compete in the London Olympics next year if possible.

The 28-year-old, whose hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ended last week, was in Copenhagen yesterday for Team Saxo Bank’s presentation of 29 riders for next season before heading to a training camp in Israel.

Asked if his main objective was to win next year’s Tour de France, three-time Tour champion Contador said: “Yes. . . I know it is very difficult. . . but I will work very hard for this.”

The Tour could also serve as good preparation for the July-August London Olympics.“It sounds interesting. . . if the possibility is there, I will give it a try,” he said. The Spaniard tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France but claimed it came from contaminated meat. He was cleared by the Spanish federation last February, only for the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency to appeal against to CAS. Last week the body said a decision was not due before 2012.