Contador hearing postponed

An appeal of a drug-related disciplinary action concerning three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has been postponed to November. Contador during the second rest day of the 2010 Tour de France tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol, a metabolism stimulant. Contador claimed he inadvertently took the drug when he ate contaminated meat. The result of that test was made public last September. He was initially suspended from cycling but was cleared of the allegation by the Spanish Cycling Federation, which allowed him to race this season. The International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A hearing before the CAS was scheduled for next week but WADA asked that it be delayed. CAS said the case will be heard in November. "The second round of written submissions will allow the parties to complete their evidence and arguments relating to some specific scientific issues," CAS said in a statement. Contador won the Tour de France in 2007, 2009 and 2010. He finished fifth this year.