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A urine sample taken from three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador shows unusually high levels of plastic residue that may have come from plastic bags used in transfusions, .
Last week, Contador was suspended after testers in a sample taken during this year's Tour. According to an anonymous source who spoke to the AP, the new sample showing eight times the normal amount of the plasticizer came from a separate test on July 20, two days before a tough mountain stage, CBC says.
Contador denies ever blood doping, during this year's Tour or any other time. His spokesman also denies that any plastics were found in any of Contador's samples, to their knowledge. Furthermore, Contador has challenged officials to freeze samples of his urine and blood until self-blood transfusion detection methods are indisputable, CBC says.
This test result has not been verified by WADA officials, since the investigation is confidential and ongoing, but if Contador is found guilty, he will lose his Tour title. Blood doping in cycling is an easy accusation in light of its ubiquity in the sport and Floyd Landis's recent attempts to bring big names down with him. Here at ϳԹ, we maintain a policy of innocent until proven guilty.
–Nick Davidson