The Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador says he's considering appealing against the two-year ban he was handed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for failing a dope test during his victorious 2010 Tour de France campaign.
Contador has told a packed news conference in his home town of Pinto near Madrid that he's innocent of doping and plans to return to competition when the retroactive ban ends in August.
He blames his positive test for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol, on eating contaminated meat.
He says his lawyers are examining the possibilities.
Tour winner in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of his generation, Contador also faces losing his 2011 Giro d'Italia title and all his other victories last season.
If he doesn't win his appeal he won't be able to compete in this year's Tour or the London Olympic Games.
