MADRID - The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) may clear three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of using performance-enhancing drugs when its issues its final decision on Tuesday, Spanish newspapers said.

The RFEC, which last month recommended a one-year ban for Contador, has been convinced by arguments put forward by the Spaniard himself and may decide to clear him, the dailies El Pais and El Mundo said on their websites on Monday.

A spokesman for the RFEC told AFP the committee will inform Contador on Tuesday of its final decision, but would comment no further on the news reports.

El Pais said "sources close to the committee, which met last week, its members are leaning toward clearing him".

The committee can either clear Contador, confirm its original recommendation of a one-year suspension or increase the ban to two years, the amount stipulated under international regulations for such a doping offence.

Contador's press officer, Jacinto Vidarte, said the rider had not been presented with a final decision.

"We've not had any official confirmation as of yet. If it's true then it's great news but, like I said, all the information we have comes from the press," he told specialist website Cyclingnews.com.

Contador's future has hung in the balance since he announced last August he had tested positive for minute traces of the banned substance clenbuterol during last July's race.

He has repeatedly denied taking any banned substances, blaming the result on a steak he claims was contaminated by the drug.

On Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero got behind him, saying "there is no legal reason to sanction Contador".

If the International Cycling Union (UCI) does not agree with whatever sanction is handed down it can appeal the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to seek the punishment it believes Contador merits.

Contador also has the possibility to appeal to CAS.

Clenbuterol is a banned weight loss/muscle-building drug which is also used to fatten cattle. It was banned by the European Union in 1996 but it is still administered illicitly by some cattle farmers.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/16/2011 page23)