Day of Reckoning

At the Tour de France 2011 3 time winner Alberto Contador finished 5th more than 4 minutes behind winner Cadel Evans. To some he seemed to lack something from previous years. The aura of invincibility had vanished. Was it simple form, the debilitating effects of his legal travails or something more sinister. Starting on Monday 21st November at Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and over the following 3 days we may finally have an answer as to why. At TdF 2010 which Contador won, the Spaniard failed a drug test. He tested positive for minute traces of clenbuterol. As is the way with these things he immediately protested his innocence. In his case he relied upon what seemed initially to the casual observer to be an unlikely defence. He claimed that he had ingested 'contaminated meat'. Nonetheless at his hearing before the Spanish Cycling Federation Contador was successful. No fault apparently lay at his door. Unsurprisingly the UCI and WADA are appealing this decision to CAS.
In a separate, but arguably connected development, a significant number of under 17 footballers at a major event in Mexico tested positive for clenbuterol. It was eventually accepted that there is a significant problem with clenbuterol contamination of cattle in Mexico due to unscrupulous farming practices. However the instance of clenbuterol contamination in Europe is virtually zero. Contador may have to show that his 'meat' originated in South America. There have been extensive preparatory tests and discussions and the hearing has been postponed for a significant period of time. Contador planned to call the butcher who allegedly provided the 'contaminated meat' and a lie detector expert.
Another interesting facet of this case is that during the analysis of Contador's samples, it was established that his samples contained a higher than normal level of plasticizers. It is suggested that the 'plastic' derives from the bags used for illegal blood transfusions and that the Clenbuterol may have entered his system in this way. Precisely what part this will play before CAS remains to be seen.
Undoubtedly the legacy and future of Contador is at stake. Should he lose he will  be stripped of his 2010 title and face a lengthy suspension. He will be utterly discredited. The question of Contador's 2011 'missing 10%' may be resolved.