Report: Urine sample from Tour de France champion Alberto Contador could show evidence of blood transfusion

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Already provisionally suspended by the international cycling federation for testing positive for a banned substance, Tour de France winner Alberto Contador could be in even more trouble.

The three-time Tour champion may have received a transfusion of his own blood during this year’s race to help increase his endurance.

The New York Times is citing an unnamed source with knowledge of a urine sample from Contador that showed levels of a chemical found in plastic IV bags eight times higher than the minimum amount that would signify doping.

Contador has previously denied receiving a transfusion. Blood transfusions are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, except in medical emergencies.

‘We are not aware of any findings of this plastic substance in any of the tests,’ Contador’s spokesman, Jacinto Vidarte, said of the test result that was reported by the French sports daily L’Equipe and the German television network ARD last week. ‘We — officially and unofficially — have no information on anything to do with this. There were no traces of plastic in any of the tests.’

Last week, Contador blamed contaminated beef for the small amount of the banned drug clenbuterol found in one of his samples. If convicted of doping, he will lose his Tour de France title and could face a two-year suspension.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.