Spanish cycling officials proposed a one-year ban Wednesday for Alberto Contador for failing a Tour de France doping test, a person familiar with the case told The Associated Press.
If the penalty is adopted, Contador would lose his third Tour title because of the positive clenbuterol result he blames on contaminated meat. The Spanish cyclist would also be ineligible to compete in this year's Tour.
The person told the AP that Spanish cycling federation officials presented the proposed ban to Contador's representatives Wednesday afternoon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.
The person stressed the one-year ban isn't a definitive decision.
Contador has 10 days to challenge the one-year proposal by presenting new evidence or material, according to Spanish federation rules. After that, the four-person disciplinary committee will reconvene to decide whether to uphold or change the proposed sanction.
The Spanish federation said it delivered an initial decision made by its disciplinary committee, but declined to confirm the proposed one-year sanction.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) said it would wait until the final verdict before commenting. The standard penalty is a two-year ban.
The Spanish body's final decision - expected around Feb. 10 - could still be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by Contador, the UCI or the World Anti-Doping Agency.
If stripped of the 2010 Tour victory, the title would go to runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.
Contador would be the second cyclist to lose the Tour title. The first was American Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour victory after a positive test. For years, Landis denied doping but admitted last year that he used performance-enhancing drugs.
Contador, winner of both the Giro d'Italia and Spanish Vuelta in 2008, tested positive during a rest day at last year's Tour de France.
Contador said he and four other Astana teammates ate beef on July 20 in the Spanish border town of Irun and that he was the only one who underwent a doping test on July 21.
Clenbuterol, a muscle-building, weight-loss drug, is considered a banned substance by WADA. It is sometimes given to cows, pigs and other animals to increase their growth rate.
Contador said he learned of the test results on Aug. 24 and met with UCI doctors two days later. Contador went public with the news in September.
With seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong now back in retirement, Contador is cycling's biggest star, so it could be devastating for the sport if the Spanish rider is found to have cheated.
Contador, who also won the Tour in 2007 and 2009, signed a two-year deal to race for Saxo Bank from this season. Saxo Bank officials did not answer calls seeking comment Wednesday.
