September 29, 2010 – Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Astana, winner of the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Tour de France, has tested positive reports the Spanish news site COPE. The Spanish cycling star tested positive for clenbuterol after the July 21 stage of the 2010 TdF – clenbuterol is a medication commonly used by asthma patients. The UCI is expected to make a statement about the case on Thursday (September 30).

Contador’s communications agent issued a press release saying that “Contador has been the victim of a case of food contamination.” Apparently the contaminated food was a steak from Spain. There have been hundreds of reported cases of clenbuterol contamination in meat in both the U.S.A. and China reports Wikipedia. Contador is expected to present his version of events at a press conference Thursday in his hometown of Pinto, near Madrid.

This is not the first time Contador has faced doping accusations; he was named in the Puerto doping scandal, but he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in that affair. Contador, 27, has signed with SaxoBank-Sungard for the 2011 season.

Chinese cyclist Li Fuyu (RadioShack) also tested positive for clenbuterol at the Dwars door Vlaanderen race in Belgium in March. Li is now apparently either serving or likely to face a two-year ban from professional cycling.

Read more (in Spanish) here