Contador tests positive for banned substance

[Norse]

So, if the team ate the supposedly tainted meat, and this drug stays in the body for a long time, shouldn't some of his teammates have tested positive for the same drug during the race? Were none of them tested for the rest of the race?

I thought I read that Contador asked who else on the team was tested that day and the response was, only Vino, and Contador said something like "Great, he's the only one who didn't eat the meat."

[NoNo]

I read that they supposedly detected traces of plastic in the sample as well, lending to the theory that he used is own blood taken earlier in the year when he was doping. Then there were people saying that it's not possible to detect plastic in the blood. I don't know enough to really say either way, but I think the reusing his blood theory makes a bit more sense than tainted steak.

[emily_in_nc]

After believing Floyd when he said he didn't dope and feeling duped later, I am now very cynical about these things and believe that where there is smoke, there is most likely fire. I don't care for Contador, and if he did dope, he should have his TdF title stripped away. I know this wasn't the way Andy wanted to be named champ, but I'll be happy for him anyway, if it does happen.

[tzvia]

I read that they supposedly detected traces of plastic in the sample as well, lending to the theory that he used is own blood taken earlier in the year when he was doping. Then there were people saying that it's not possible to detect plastic in the blood. I don't know enough to really say either way, but I think the reusing his blood theory makes a bit more sense than tainted steak.

I had read this too, and also that the plastic was of a type only used in blood bags (a softener actually). Sounds to me like he may have been doping during training and then drew blood for use later at the TDF. As the amounts found were very low, below what the usual test would detect, it may have been undetected by any test that Contador's team would have done on the blood. This positive came in a sample taken after a rest day, which seems a likely time to blood 'refuel'. The doping would have been happening to enhance training benefits way before the tour and its trace, along with this plastic softener, sounds bad for Contador. His dinner wasn't served in a blood bag.

[KnottedYet]

Wouldn't it be nice if this level of scrutiny, financing, public discussion, scientific analysis, concern, media coverage, and forum and personal conversations were directed at something like preventing teen suicides? Or fighting diabetes?

I have pretty much washed my hands of professional racers. There is no joy in it for me any more.

[pll]

The rumor of the plastic residue findings comes from a reporter, Damien Ressiot, from L'Equipe, who mentioned it in a discussion forum (here it is), not even a editorial note in L'Equipe's web site. What irritates about this entire doping/anti-doping business is that it is handled in such an amateurish manner:

• Is there a standard protocol to handle the samples? Laboratories in Cologne, Paris and Barcelona are mentioned in different stories (those samples earn frequent flier miles).
• Shouldn't there be an official notification to the riders and their national federations right away? The finding for Contador was in July, he was notified in August; Mosquera found out through the press. And the issue of plastic traces is an unconfirmed rumor, posted in a bulletin board.

The takeaway for me is that I am not persuaded any rider is clean, and I don't trust the UCI either.

[malkin]

I'm waiting for Contador to say that he ate the meat, but he didn't inhale.