Playing hangman with Contador

First of all, I don’t know all the details about the Contador case and I am not his biggest fan but a ban for two years and a fine of 2.5 million euros, seems to be out of proportion for what has been proven against him.

The only thing that has been proven is the fact that there was 50 picograms of clenbuterol (which is a banned substance) in his blood during the Tour de France of 2010.

The CAS panel concluded that both a meat contamination scenario and a blood transfusion scenario were, in theory, possible explanations, but were however equally unlikely. In the panel’s opinion on the basis of the evidence adduced, the presence of clenbuterol was more likely caused by the ingestion of a contaminated food supplement.

Two questions that come to my mind:
- Where did the clenbuterol or food supplement come from?
- Can the amount of clenbuterol gain any benefit in his performance?

First question stays unanswered. And thus the question if the substance was taken on purpose, or provided by the team, stays unanswered. According to the experts the second question can be answered with ‘No!’.

So losing his Tour de France 2010 title sounds ‘fair’ since that is the race where he tested positive. but…

• A ban of two years seems to be long compared to the sanction that for example Ricco got?
• Losing his Giro 2011 title, where he didn’t fail a test?
• Adding a 2.5 million euro fine to the sanction?
• Calling Contador a ‘doping cheat’ as John Fahey did?
• Making Contador wait 566 days for this verdict?

Why does Contador have to prove his innocense? Isn’t that the world upside down? And shouldn’t the Astana team have to prove their innocense? And why shouldn’t CAS have to prove Contador’s or Team Astana’s guilt?

Seems WADA and UCI are focussing so hard on a clean cycling sport, they have started applying their rules in a black and white manner, leaving no room for grey. Perhaps because of the fact that, also in these organizations, people care more about their own ego than for the cycling sport, which will eventually kill the sport way faster that any dope scandal…

To me it seems quite easy to play hangman with Contador being WADA or UCI.