Contador ignores Armstrong doping investigation

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) remains focused on winning his second Giro d'Italia in five days time in Milan. He leads the race by nearly five minutes over rival Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD).

Although Contador faces his own problems as a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing hangs over him, it's nothing compared to what faces his former Astana team mate and rival Lance Armstrong.

In the USA an investigation has been moving forward for more than a year into Armstrong. Other former team-mates have accused him of doping in testimony's heard by a Grand Jury. TV programme '60 Minutes' aired an interview with Tyler Hamilton on Sunday where he repeated what the details of his testimony.

Hamilton claimed Armstrong took EPO and testosterone, and transfused his own blood during his career. Armstrong's most loyal team mate George Hincapie is believed to have given a similar confession to the investigation.

Having been ambushed by Armstrong and Bruyneel in the 2009 Tour de France, Contador could have been forgiven for being a little smug, but instead he distanced himself from Armstrong's situation.

"It doesn't really apply to me. I think in the present," Contador said in a press conference today. "All you have to do is look at the fans, the amount of fans out there - in the cold, the rain - that's the most important thing."

Armstrong has denied doping allegations throughout his career. His spokesman, Mark Fabiani issued a statement after the '60 Minutes' programme that pointed out the numerous anti-doping tests Armstrong passed and discredit the programme's "serious lack of journalistic fairness."

Contador raced with Armstrong at team Astana in 2009 after Armstrong returned from retirement. He is the best Grand Tour racer since Armstrong, winning the Giro once, the Tour three times and the Vuelta a España once.

He, as with Armstrong, has his critics. At the Tour de France last year, Contador failed a test for banned drug, clenbuterol. The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) acquitted him, but he faces another hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) next month.

Unscrupulous athletes use clenbuterol to lose weight and breathe easier. There are also reports that the drug may have entered Contador's system via a blood transfusion.

Contador maintains his innocence and claims the positive result came from eating a contaminated steak bought in Irún, Spain. He mentioned the fans today, but not the ones who wrote "Contador... Filetto o Fialetta?" ('Filet or phial') last week or the one who waved a steak on a fishing line in front of him while he was climbing Monte Zoncolan on Saturday.

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Giro 2011: Who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage 16: Contador lords it over the rest in Giro TT

Stage 15: Nieve wins mountain marathon as Contador continues at the top

Stage 14: Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened stage

Stage 13: Contador consolidates Giro overall as Rujano takes stage

Stage 12: Cavendish holds off Appollonio to take second victory

Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win

Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account

Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead

Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win

Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker

Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia stage 16 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 13 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 11 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index