Alberto Contador case likely to go to CAS, says Spanish Fed

The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) expect the Alberto Contador case to end up in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), president Juan Carlos Castano said on Saturday. 

The three-times Tour de France champion failed a test for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during this year's Tour,  but has blamed a piece of meat contaminated with the stimulant  for his positive test.     

"I don't expect a solution before the middle of January," Castano, whose federation have opened disciplinary proceedings  against Contador, said in an interview with sports daily AS.

"In my opinion the case will finish up with CAS, because none of the parties will be content with the outcome. It isn't  an easy case and requires extensive study."  

The 28-year-old Contador, one of only five men with victories in all three grand Tours (France, Italy and Spain), faces a possible two-year ban from the sport.