Share

Clenbuterol is widespread in cycling

The use of the banned muscle-building and weight-loss stimulant that Tour de France champion Alberto Contador tested positive for is widespread in cycling, according to disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis.

Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour title because of doping, told German television that he knows riders take clenbuterol.

"I think that the risk of taking clenbuterol is higher now than it was earlier, when there weren't any training controls," Landis said. "There is still the risk of being caught even if it is rather small now, since the product has usually degraded when the control takes place.

"You don't know what risks people will take to win a race."

Testing positive

Contador, who won his third Tour title earlier this year, says his positive test for clenbuterol was the result of eating contaminated meat. He is facing a two-year ban and being stripped of his victory at an upcoming hearing before the Spanish cycling federation.

Landis has previously alleged that Lance Armstrong and members of their former US Postal team systematically doped. A grand jury in Los Angeles has been hearing evidence from an investigation for months in closed sessions.

Landis said that cycling's governing body "protects some people and not others".

"That is the way they manipulate results and create stars," said Landis, who acknowledged his own doping history when he rode for US Postal and Phonak. "It is easy to take anabolics, whether it is testosterone, growth hormone or something like that; and EPO and to make blood transfusions. You can easily do all of that without getting caught, and we routinely did it."

Armstrong, a seven-time Tour winner, has always denied doping.

(Sapa, November 2010)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE