Contador case decision delayed amid accusations of bias

As a demonstration of just how distinct the "Contador case" has been, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) published on its website an unprecedented decision due to a previously unheard-of circumstance.

Contador's case at the CAS was heard in November, with the cyclist ever-present during proceedings as he attempted to clear his name for returning a positive clenbuterol sample at last year's Tour de France. Absolved by the Spanish Cycling Federation, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cycling Union appealed to the CAS. A decision from the three-man panel was expected this week but has now been delayed following media allegations of bias and in-fighting among the adjudicators.

Concerns were raised over alleged links between lead arbitrator Efraín Barak and a recent visit to Israel by Contador's Saxo Bank team. WADA seriously doubts the impartiality of Barak and in the case of a verdict in favor of Contador, the doping authority has not ruled out taking the matter to the Swiss Federal Courts. A week before Contador's hearing began in Lausanne, Barak attended a conference in Madrid organized by the Superior Sports Council and attended by Gorka Villar, the son of the president of the Spanish Football Federation and Contador's lawyer.

Mathieu Reeb, the CAS spokesman, said that he had given Barak permission to attend the seminar. However, It has also emerged that the WADA accuses Barak of not allowing it to question one of its own expert scientific witnesses, Michael Ashenden.

"This process is a farce. We were on the verge of leaving," one of WADA's experts texted a friend on the evening of November 23, the third day of the trial.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has noted with great disappointment that some media has reported certain rumors in relation to the arbitration procedure involving the International Cycling Union (UCI), the World Anti-Doping Agency, Alberto Contador and the Spanish Cycling Federation," read the statement on CAS' website.

"This regrettable incident has slightly delayed the work of the panel and the publication of the final decision should now take place during the week of January 31," CAS stated.