January 26, 2011 (Madrid, Spain) – The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) has handed Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) a one-year doping suspension it was confirmed today reports Le Parisien. An official announcement is expected tomorrow and the decision can still be appealed by Contador. If he appeals the ban, however, the UCI might demand a more severe sanction. All of this follows his positive doping test for a minute trace of clenbuterol.

Contador, the defending champion, will thus not be able to compete in the 2011 Tour de France. There is also some question as to whether he will keep the 2010 title or whether that will be accorded to second place finisher, Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek). After American Floyd Landis was convicted for doping at the 2006 TdF, where he finished first, the UCI stripped him of the TdF title and accorded it instead to second place finisher Oscar Pereiro.

The UCI issued a statement on Jan. 27 saying Contador is not suspended yet – click here.

Le Parisien (in French) here.
Reuters (in English) here.