Contador is calm but annoyed - Castano
Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador "is calm but annoyed" by the two-year doping ban imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) president Juan Carlos Castano told DPA on Monday.
"I have spoken with Alberto himself. He appeared calm in principle, but was obviously annoyed by this resolution, given that something this strong had not been expected," Castano told DPA by telephone.
"He did not tell me what he expected. I understand he expected a solution, not a sanction after all the work that had been done to prove his innocence," added Castano, who said his federation "abides by the sanction, but does not share it."
The CAS banned Contador, 29, for two years on Monday and also stripped him of the 2010 Tour title, 2011 Giro d'Italia crown and other results on a ban which runs until August 5.
Contador tested positive for the anabolic agent clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour. He attributed the adverse finding to the consumption of contaminated meat.
The RFEC accepted Contador's arguments and acquitted him on February 14, 2011. The ruling cycling body UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency, however, decided to appeal against the decision at the CAS.
Castano said the decision taken by the competition committee of the RFEC in February 2011 was "adjusted to law."
However, "the CAS has used other proof and other criteria which the competition committee did not take into account. We cannot hold the competition committee responsible for judging something when it did not have all the documents which served as a basis for the resolution."
The proof and criteria are "very numerous reports from the part of the Wada and UCI, and even new documents presented by the defence.
"There is something we need to emphasise. It has never been shown that there was doping. Contrary to ordinary justice, where there is the presumption of innocence, sports justice has liability. On the basis of that and of a not significant negligence, the court has taken its decision," Castano said, denying that the image of the RFEC had been affected.
"It is difficult to understand and to explain, but in sports we live with a very radical code of strict liability, and that leads to this kind of resolutions, which can appear unfair in many cases."