Tour champ Contador banned for doping

MADRID, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Reigning Tour de France Champion Alberto Contador confirmed Wednesday he has been banned from the sport for a year after a positive drug test.

A spokesman for the cyclist indicated in a statement Contador was slapped with the sanction by the Spanish Cycling Federation.

Contador, a three-time winner of the Tour de France, tested positive for the muscle-building drug clenbuterol during the 2010 event, which he has blamed on eating contaminated meat.

The Spanish group's provisional ruling will be released Thursday, and Contador has scheduled a news conference for Friday, the BBC reported.

The Spaniard has the option to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His 2010 Tour title could be stripped if the ruling is upheld.

Contador maintained his innocence in July when the positive test was revealed, asserting that the UCI, the world cycling governing body, itself had confirmed the positive test was due to food contamination.