If Contador's really innocent then it's all good. Unless you consider the unfairness of it all. A tainted media beef.

If Contador really ingested Clenbuterol inadvertently, without any knowledge or intent, then all, surely, is good. Until WADA decides to appeal, I guess. Six months down, another 6 months of goodness to come?

Now we may think Alberto guilty or innocent, but how could we know? We just get fed the same tainted media beef everyone else gets. We may have doubts about the fairness of this decision to others, particularly to those athletes who have been in similar situations of "inadvertence" but were penalised (see the link to Rory Sutherland's story, below). Now we can't turn back the clock and reverse such past "unfair" decisions, they are done and dusted - and personal careers delayed, destroyed or at least deflected onto new paths. (Although you can't help but wonder if some of those penalised athletes may not be thinking ruefully at this outcome and wondering if there's a compensation angle opening up here. Sadly that's unlikely.) And yes, we may imagine making valid exceptions where real doubt exists. But we do have a duty to be careful in choosing our exceptions.

Is Contador an exception to the rule for the right reasons? Or for the wrong ones?

Contador’s spokesman confirms that he’s been cleared of Clenbuterol doping charges

“Alberto Contador has been officially cleared by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation and has been authorized to return to competition immediately,” said Jacinto Vidarte. “If everything goes well, the rider will take the start, tomorrow, at the Volta ao Algarve.”

Media Reactions To Contador's Clearing On Doping Charges | Cyclingnews.com

My feeling is that this case (and more generally article 296 of the UCI’s regulations) sets an extremely dangerous precedent. The UCI couldn’t show conclusively that Contador had deliberately taken clenbuterol? OK, does that mean the same now applies when a rider tests positive for EPO?

Media Reactions To Contador's Clearing On Doping Charges | Cyclingnews.com

is the only real difference between Contador and someone like the American Tom Zirbel, banned for two years after accidentally ingesting the hormone DHEA, the money they were able to invest in their defence?

There are parallels with Rory Sutherland's case, but with a very different outcome (although Rory thankfully got his career back on track after an enforced delay.)

Rory Sutherland Interview: Rory's Story | Cyclingnews.com

Sutherland claims he had no prior knowledge of the substance until he was told it was present in his body at the time he was tested, which occurred at the Deutschland Tour (Tour of Germany) in August 2005. Evidence reveals the concentration of Clomiphene in his body was in the range of 5-10 nanograms - in other words, 5-10 billionths of a gram - and it was this argument that was put forward to the disciplinary committee at his November 23 hearing.

Furthermore, an independent investigation committee wrote in its report that it did not find "any indication that Sutherland was directly or indirectly implicated in expressing interest in or in using substances classified as doping agents" and that "Sutherland took the substance unknowingly."

There are many examples of such "alternative endings" to this "inadvertent ingestion" story.  Perhaps Alberto's story will receive an alternative ending when WADA decides to take it further - or not.

I guess it's too late to hope that Ricco is innocent. But what happens if Contador gets off?

Although I wanted to believe that Ricco could resist temptation it looks increasingly unlikely that he'll talk his way out of this one - even if it is all hearsay at the moment. And we haven't heard from him at all (is he even able to speak right now?) so who knows what has really happened. OTOH Contador has put up a good, spirited case against overwhelmingly solid evidence. Yet I have a sneaking suspicion he'll get off, despite premature announcements of guilt and a 1 year ban. He's definitely positive for a banned substance - and many others have just copped it sweet for these "inadvertent ingestion" calls - but the signals are very mixed. The UCI doesn't want to interfere, yet they don't want to "crucify" him either. And the Spanish are hesitant with their "proposals". We shall soon know.

SBS: Cycling Central : Vacansoleil suspend Ricco

Ricco returned from a doping ban early last year however the Italian climbing specialist aroused suspicion when he was admitted to hospital last week suffering from a suspected blood infection.

Reports claimed Ricco made himself ill by injecting blood which had not been stored properly.

A Vacansoleil statement issued overnight meanwhile suggested they had found enough proof of a doping infraction to suspend the Italian, and were taking legal advice about ending his contract.

SBS: Cycling Central : Spanish PM defends Contador

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has defended Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, who is facing a one-year ban for doping offences.

SBS: Cycling Central : Spanish PM defends Contador

Despite repeatedly denying taking any banned substances, blaming the result on food contamination, it increasingly looks like stage racing's biggest talent will be banned.

The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) made a proposal last month to ban Contador for a year.

Contador positive for Clenbuterol in four different tests

Previously reported as positive on two days, the Spanish media has reported that Alberto Contador’s samples showed traces of Clenbuterol on four different occasions, spread over five days.