Tour de France can’t prevent Contador from racing
The Tour's organizing body confirms that it cannot exclude Alberto Contador from racing in July
Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme confirmed today that he and his Amaury Sport Organization cannot prevent Alberto Contador from riding the Tour.
Because Contador’s hearing with the Court of Abritration for Sport (CAS) has been postponed, and since neither the International Cycling Union (UCI) or World Anti-Doping Agency haven’t opposed Contador competing in races, the ASO’s hands are tied. The Tour organization has banned teams in the past (like Contador’s Astana in 2008) for ethical violations, but Contador’s cooperation with anti-doping proceedings precludes this type of exclusion.
The UCI will seek disqualification of Contador’s 2011 results, including the Giro d’Italia he won on Sunday, if the CAS upholds his original suspension for Clenbuterol, which has subsequently cleared by the Spanish cycling federation.
