• Contador has 30 days to challenge verdict in Swiss court
• 29-year-old was stripped of 12 race wins and could lose €5m
Alberto Contador is 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.
The 29-year-old Spaniard, who was stripped of the Tour title by the Cas in its ruling published on Monday, told a news conference that he was innocent and planned to return to competition when the retroactive ban ends in August.
"My lawyers are examining the possibilities and as I have said before we have to fight to the end," Contador said when asked if he would appeal Lausanne-based Cas's decision in the Swiss federal court, which he must do within 30 days.
"With the sentence in my hand the sensation I still feel is that I am innocent. I did not dope myself. I will continue in cycling. I will continue to do so in a clean way as I have all my life. And I know that will make me stronger in the future."
Contador, who won the Tour in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and is widely regarded as the greatest cyclist of his generation, was speaking at a hotel in his home town of Pinto near Madrid. He tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour, claiming the drug got into his system from contaminated meat.
According to cyclingnews.com Contador's doping conviction could cost him over €5m (£4.15m) in fees, fines and lost earnings . The Spaniard is waiting for the Cas to rule on the UCI's attempt to fine him €2.4m and 70% of his contract. With Contador estimated to be on €5m a year with his team Saxo Bank, that could mean an additional €3.5m fine.
Contador is also set to lose all the prize money earned after 25 January 2011 – including that gained from his win in last year's Giro d'Italia and the 11 other wins since the disciplinary process started – and will not be able to earn money from cycling until his ban expires in August. Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who finished second to Contador in the 2010 Tour de France, will now be elevated to champion.
Cyclingnews.com reports that at least one potential sponsor – Hugo Boss – has ended its relationship with the rider due to the outcome of the case.
Those factors, in addition to 18 months of legal fees, are likely to make his positive test a very expensive mistake indeed.