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Cycling's governing body says a "very small concentration" of a banned substance was found in the urine of Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, but that he has been suspended.
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Bryn Lennon/Getty ImagesAlberto Contador won his third Tour de France title in July.
The UCI says a lab in Germany found clenbuterol in Contador's urine sample on July 21 at the Tour de France. But the amount was only 50 picograms, which the UCI says "is 400 time(s) less than what the antidoping laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency's must be able to detect."
It says that both Contador's A and B samples tested positive and that Contador has been "formally and provisionally suspended."
It says that the case is still being investigated and that this may take some time.
The UCI released its statement in the early hours of Thursday.
Jacinto Vidarte, Contador's publicist, said Contador has blamed food contamination as the only possible explanation for the test.
"The experts consulted so far have agreed also that this is a food contamination case, especially considering the number of tests passed by Alberto Contador during the Tour de France," Vidarte said in the release, "making it possible to define precisely both the time the emergence of the substance as the tiny amount detected, ruling out any other source or intentionality."
Contador will hold a news conference on Thursday in Pinto, Spain.
Contador was first made aware of the positive test on Aug. 24, according to statement, and has provided his explanation to the proper authorities.
Clenbuterol is a synthetic bronchodilator often prescribed to asthma sufferers. The drug is on the WADA's banned substances list and its use would mean a two-year ban from the sport.
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I always hated the guy. Extremely arrogant and no sense of teamwork. Cycling has to get their *#+@ together or lose even more respect. Absolute dirtiest sport around
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