Contador banned

[Marcus]

1 year ban and stripped of TDF title, is this the correct outcome?
Is Schleck a worthy winner?

Amy need not reply

[Dombo]

Not harsh enough. Should be two year ban at least.

[-Adam-]

Why?

[Andrew G]

If this is for the miniscule amount of something they found that he said was contaminated meat then it's daft. From memory it was miles below the tested for quantity to trip a positive.

If he's been doping then catch him properly and ban him properly, this smacks of being banned for drink driving after having a sherry trifle at sunday lunch with such small amounts registering. I can't remember the figures but with that small amount on the test is it even higher than the error margin?

[Dombo]

[quote="-Adam-"]Why?

[-Adam-]

Its a fair point, but, I have to agree with Andrew.

The amount was so small, in addition to the fact its not something you would generally take during a grand tour, its all a bit dodgy in my opinion.

So yes, catch him properly and ban him properly. Or, leave him be. It's almost like they thought he was doing something more serious, but couldn't pin it on him, so this was the best they could do. Hence only a one year ban, just to scare him a bit. Like sending a banker down for a year, for tax evasion, just to scare him a bit, to keep him in check.

Dodgy, very dodgy. But based on what we actually know, I think he should be free to ride. This is his job after all.

[Dombo]

Sorry, I was a bit flippant. If he is guilty of taking the drug to cheat, as the verdict implies, then he should get the mandatory two years. Unfortunately, the authorities simply go by the presence of the drug, not the reason for it being there.
I agree, one year is a fudge, it's like finding somebody guilty of manslaughter so you can bang them up for five years while you poke around some more to find the evidence of murder.
Erm, let's leave bankers out of it shall we? hem hem.

[Ben]

"catch him properly"

This bit is the problem, him could refer to any rider.

Cannot find the link to the recommendations made by WADA from last years tour

[Andrew G]

[quote="Ben"]"catch him properly"

This bit is the problem, him could refer to any rider.

Cannot find the link to the recommendations made by WADA from last years tour

[virek]

Personally I think the plasticizers in the blood is the most significant element in the affair. That doesn't happen just like that !

Whether you feel should/should not be included in the consideration for a ban or not is irrelevant, it got in there somehow and the most likely explanation is transfusion, until now undetectable.

I think 2 years should be exactly what it says, mandatory !

His empty threat of quitting the sport if he's banned convinces me even more that he's guilty.

[nick de meyer]

life ban from the UCI, 2 years is too easy for them

[the other Steve Dennis]

Shouldn't Saxo Bank be about to sack him?

[Phil H]

It's OK - he's [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/9398599.stm]innocent[/url]. So we can all relax now.

[Marcus]

Always knew he was innocent. He can now compete knowing in his heart he has done nothing wrong.

[Brian Nolan]

The Spanish authorities are a complete joke... I hope WADA get serious and ban him ... and bring in an official test for plastiscers or however its spelt !