.... and the plot thickens ....

Surely there needs to be further investigation as to whether the chemical found in the IV bags is specific to blood bags. If its found in all IV bags, ie Fluid replacement /hydration , then that cannot be damning evidence of doping...can it ?

I've had a couple of fluid bags put in through a drip, at the end of amateur level Ironman Tri's.

If fluid replacement is cheating then thousands of amateurs throughout the world are guilty.

I imagine they have to inform the UCI etc. if they've had an IV, regardless of the reason

There's lots of 'could be's' and 'might be's' but no actual judgemnent, come on UCI sort it out!

With every week this soap opera continues cyclings reputation is slowly being wiped around the toilet bowl, nice!

Steak often comes wrapped in plastic ;-)

This assertion comes from a "press agent". That's his job, isn't it ...... to paint the best picture possible, in spite of any evidence to the contrary? Bertie should speak for himself & not leave his defence to a PA. He's deep enough in the s@!$ as it is, without encouraging more of this type of "smokescreen" from his staff.

I've yet to get a sense that he's speaking honestly and openly, and without doing so he's on the road to oblivion. I get the impression from his (and his "PA team's") comments that they are desperately clinging to the flimsiest claims in the face of mounting scientific evidence of very possible wrongdoing.

I can see It's all going to end in tears for AC. ..... Next please! There are a lot of other cases to get through, you know!

I really want him to be innocent. He can't really be that stupid can he? It does make you wonder as he was far from his best this year, but surely he did not need to win that bad?

Of course his previous team of Liberty Seguros was run by Manolo Sainz, who over saw one of the biggest doping programs in the sport, and then Astana has always been tainted, so who knows maybe the culture is ingrained. Unfortunately I imagine it will a trial by media.

GUILTY !!!

and he still denies it! Christ, the cheek of some of these riders ... at first I thought he was innocent, he made the meat excuse actually credible imo, jeez .....

Scratcher - IV bags of any sort are not permitted - even if it's just 'regular fluids' unless they are administered by the Tour doctor. They would know if he had had such a treatment - which he didn't.

Look, it's all very simple. The beef he ate was wrapped in cling film, which is where the plasticizers came from.

Yes, some of you might argue that the test is specific to the plastic used in blood bags but this was special 'spanish cling film' to complement the 'special spanish beef'. And yes some might say that the levels were too high to have been from special 'spanish cling film' but that's what makes it so special you see. It was probably like double wrapped and stuff to keep in the special freshness.

Honestly, there really is no need to over complicate all of this.

In these difficult economic times, when Spain is already suffering from the credit crunch, it's good to know that they are working hard and applying their efforts to innovative ideas. I hope they've got a world-wide patent on their Super-Spanish Cling-Film? They could "wrap up" the world market!

..... They also are working on a second complimentary product ..... they're thinking of calling it "Spanish Cover-Up"!

wow, what a shit storm.

I bet Contador shit a brick when he sensed this brewing.

He's damned if he did and hes damned if he didnt.

What a mess : (

How can it take from 21st July until now to release it, and for Pat McQuaid to say it is still being investigated.

Guilty or not this is nonsense. Those clowns (UCI / WADA) should get there facts and proof together before anything is released publicly.

This "is he / isn't he" period just damages the sport.

I do worry about the UCI, its a bad as the bloody FA

As usual with doping cases you are all jumping to conclusions. I am not a fan of Contador but we should wait for the facts. We know there was clenbuterol in his blood (assuming the lab didn't screw up the test) so technically he is in breach of the rules. UCI must decide if that warrants a penalty. Regarding the plasticiser, that indicates that he might have had a blood transfusion but not necessarily. There could be a number of ways that got into his blood. Innocent until PROVEN guilty, otherwise they (the riders) might as well all go home now.

Contador must provide evidence to prove and support his case to the public generally.

The UCI have not done enough over the years to combat doping, could they have done more - YES.

UCI must bring this case to conclusion quickly - its been a month or more so far.

LIFE BANS FOR ALL DOPERS - ITS THE ONLY WAY

Instant subscribe, addded to My favs, LOL...

In fact I'll make it my home page.

It will be a domino effect, other cyclists must be shytting their pants.

Harry01 - "Contador must provide evidence to prove and support his case to the public generally"

Um, actually no. He doesn't. He, like any other human being, is entitled to be innocent until he is found to be (beyond a reasonable doubt (or whatever the required standard of proof WADA uses is)) guilty.

They have not done this - indeed, they seem to be utterly incapable of doing this, possibly because they realise this all smells of "special spanish" bull**it - so everyone needs to leave the poor guy alone until a real and proper accusation is made with supporting evidence to back it up.

Hey paulnettles!

'He, like any other human being, is entitled to be innocent until he is found to be (beyond a reasonable doubt (or whatever the required standard of proof WADA uses is)) guilty.'

That's not right!

It's all about suspicion, innuendo, accusation and counter-accusation and then a quiet sweep under the carpet!

Cycling has had such a bad name as a dirty sport for the last 60 years that he does need to prove himself innocent, which as philosophy and logic fans will know, you can't do, as you can't prove a negative. (Or so I remember from school; I'm a bit rusty).

So basically, cycling's boned. (but we've been saying that for years).

Reporting cyclists denying things is barely a story - that's what they all do.

The other thing that would worry me as a cycling journalists is how few of these busts are first reported by the UK bike press. Too close to the subject?

I've got a feeling that the temptation to "dope to win" and the constant arms race between dopers and testers will go on for ever. Here are just some silly ideas for discussion. What do you think the consequences would be of...

1) Legalizing doping.

2) In a similar vein to legalisation, just stop testing cyclist? If anyone is caught in the act or accidentally admits to doping then they are in trouble, otherwise just let them get on with it.

Or...

3) Forming two categories - dopers and non-dopers. You could either enter the dopers group volunarily or anyone caught doping, rather than a ban, has to move into it. The level of sporting prestige and reward would be vastly less for the doping group - although their may be some sponsorship available from pharmaceutical companies - and their abilities could clearly be seen as freakish rather than impressive. Rather like how obvious steroid taking body builders are viewed.